Published on 12, July, 2020
I'm interested to know how many of the working autistic population (on here at least) work full time. I changed to working part time 4 years ago, pre-diagnosis, because I kept burning out (normal in the job I was doing so didn't attribute it to autism until I was diagnosed and looked back). Now I'm looking at my career prospects post-diagnosis as in many ways I feel more confident in myself since I know I'm not just "lacking resilience" (anyone else had that thrown at them?).
I just don't know if considering working full time again is truly realistic. Interested to know what other people's experiences are.
Right now I do a very niche role for the NHS. It doesn't pay amazingly (but also not terribly) and it isn't something that exists in a private capacity.
I feel like I need to do something with better prospects of progression (other than management roles) so I have something to focus on.
I can't really afford to be part time, I have a significant amount of debt that is slowly rising rather than falling, but at least I'm not ill. I was convinced I'd develop cancer or have a stroke or something with the constant stress, and when I wasn't worrying about that I was daydreaming about intentionally crashing my car on my way to work to end it all. I do have a reasonable salary though but it doesn't reflect my qualifications so I'm just miserable.
I work full time. I think in the job I do now, I'd prefer to drop it down to 4 instead of 5. But I have worked far longer hours in jobs that made me so much happier. I did burn out, but I think that's down to being undiagnosed and unaware. I'm seriously looking at returning to that type of work even if it's just partially. It was far more rewarding and I felt like I belonged there. Got to get healthy and pick up the skills again first though! I wish I could afford to go part time.
What about contracting?
Thanks. I had taken a step back when I started a new job in April but I got a notification about an old thread I'd commented on recently and thought maybe it would be useful to be a bit more involved again.
I don't think I have any skills which I could use to be self employed, which is a shame because I definitely think it would suit me.
Hi Michelle, good to see you pop up as I haven’t seen you much recently. Although I try to limit my time on the forum. Glad to hear you got your diagnosis.
As far as work goes, I’m self employed, which works really well for me. I get to pick and choose when and where and who I work for. If I feel myself getting burnt out I can take a few days off. I also don’t have to put up with the pointless corporate BS and endless meetings about nothing. Followed by the inevitable getting bullied out.
Yeah but to be fair you have quite a good excuse. It's not like you've been sitting on your Tod. Oh well that's the exciting thing about change you never know what's round the corner!
I feel like I have less excuse to be part time now my youngest child is in school, but it wasn't a decision about childcare in the first place. It was about my own sanity and health. I'm only 32 though and I feel like certain doors may start to close if I don't take the opportunities now.
Michelle it's interesting you say that as I've always been full-time my whole life. This year I went part time so I can branch out. Ready to go back to full time. Just not quite yet lol