Phone call to an AS charity left me crying.

Unfortunately this is all I’ve done my whole life. I haven’t got any other college/Uni qualifications and I’m worried this is where I’ll be stuck. 

I feel angry for you at being spoken to like that. You might expect it from the less informed but a charity working with autistic people should have more autism awareness and empathy. It really is shocking to generalise like that about autistic people.

Perhaps you could email the charity and explain how badly those comments have affected you. If it prevents another autistic person being spoken down to in a similar way then it will be worth it.

Many autistic people have a lot of qualifications, skills and strengths to bring to the workplace. Unfortunately work culture still persists in judging on interview performance and demanding things like being a 'team player'.

I have been there in the past, stuck in a job which was totally unsuitable for me and feeling trapped. My employer was expecting me to take on extra responsibility for managing and supervising and I did not have the interpersonal or social skills for that role. Ultimately it led to a mental breakdown (likely autistic burnout), which I wouldn't wish on anyone.

Try and work out what it is about your current role you are finding so hard. For example the supervising others or the lack of structure and routine? Are there any reasonable adjustments you could ask of your employer to make these difficult aspects easier for you, at least until you are able to find something more suitable?

Indeed. I've spent my whole career in public service organisations.  They are often more open to E&D generally, with better support from OH if needed.  And for all I had no clue I was Autistic until recently; I found the structure of interviews suited me better.  Now that I am diagnosed and very much out about it at work, I have met with nothing but support and appreciation.  That isn't necessarily so for everyone, I know, but I know if I did have line managers who were negative, the weight of organisational policy for reasonable adjustments etc would be on my side.

Civil/public service jobs are a good place to start.

Don't know what you are doing now but have you considered GORS / GSS. I hated working for the civil service as an analyst but it did help me get my foot in the door employment wise. Also the application process is very structured so if you get good (inside) advice on how to answer questions you can kind of game the application process.

Don't let the poor service you received from the charity put you down.  Get your CV together and look at what's available, maybe even get an interview just to see what it's like most are on teams so not quite so intimidating, and remember interviews are a 2 way thing, I am on a diverse interview panel list so we sit in on interviews to make sure there is no bias and it is fairly stressful on this side as we want to get the right candidate.

Reading this thread makes me cry because it's so true to life.

Sitting alone at lunchtime rather than with colleagues. Check.

Job centre has no idea what to do with my qualifications. Check.

Employment agency advising me to take totally unsuitable jobs. Check.

Now I am applying for jobs which don't mention any specific qualifications.  That way I am not lying by missing out my qualifications and I'm not frightening employers by disclosing them.

I remember being compulsory referred by the job centre to a private employment agency on their back to work schemes.  At my first appointment I was asked about my qualifications and the type of work I am looking for.  I replied honestly that my last full time qualification was a master's degree in Statistics and I'm looking for analyst jobs.  My new employment advisor said we don't have anything like that.  How about sales assistant in  Primark or cook in MacDonalds. 

It sounds to me that the charity worker was in the the wrong job, empathy came to mind. You are proving your worth by sticking with a job you don't like. I've had lots of jobs within the past & walked away from them due to my on going health issues. Had zero understanding from most employers. My sickness record was excellent, too. I've now found a job I actually like, go in early & want to keep working for as long as I possibly can (although part time now). Having worked full time most of my adult life. 

I'm sure you'll eventually find happiness within a job you like, just sometimes it takes us a while to find it. I've worked for years within previous jobs I've actually hated, only done them for the cash & have experienced disability discrimination on many occasions. Now I'm treat equally as bad as everyone else, just as I prefer it. 

Many years ago when I worked within warehousing I used to sit within the warehouse by myself or with one other adult at meal times, instead of the works canteen, as I couldn't cope with the close social interaction with others. So this is how stressed out work could be for me back then. This is just one example of how difficult I find socialising with others at times. If I had to go to the canteen I'd try to time it when as few other people were there as possible. 

After being made redundant within my last job, I was at a loss in what to do, so I decided to work on an voluntarily basis for a year within a different job field, I enjoyed it, then was offered a permanent job, which I took back then. That was over 15 years ago now & I've never looked back. I've moved around to different services within the same company just for a bit of variety, but i now work within one service, where hopefully I'll stay until I retire no doubt at some point on health grounds. 

I'm 54 now, on the waiting list & awaiting official autism diagnosis. 

The issue with high functioning autistic people is they often have the technical skills / qualifications for specialist jobs but lack the social skills to navigate the job hunting process. I can attest to those difficulties personally. And no one in the jobs industry has any idea what to do with us. The Government jobs centres see us as a huge pain. With our degrees / PhDs, often in technical subjects, but struggling to get interviews. Too qualified to be taken seriously in a shop / hospitality type job, too socially awkward to present ourselves well even on paper. And often with technical qualifications that are so niche that there aren't that many jobs out there for us to apply to in our fields.

The agencies have the same issue. They love head hunting smart people but they are mostly looking to fill managerial roles where companies want a mix of soft and technical skills.

If you have a degree graduate fairs might be worth trying.

How rude and ignorant of her and I would say is discriminatory in every sense - I'd complain - if anyone cared!  So sorry, don't give up!  Have you taken time to consider where you want to be in life, other than where you currently are?  Do you have transferable skills, etc?  Sending love, and keep talking! xxx

I'm sorry you met with such a rude reception. I kind of get this person may be used to dealing with people who can't get into work at all. The unemployment rate amongst Autistic people is worse than for other disability groups. That said, I'm shocked this person can't envision better for you and has limited you in that way.

You are absolutely not "selfish" for wanting better than you've got. We all have the right to make the very most of our potential, whatever that means to us personally.

Do your employers know you are Autistic? I know, disclosing is a gamble and a big deal, but you could consider whether a positive approach from them might not make your immediate situation better.

Otherwise, sounds like you need some really good general careers advice; identifying strengths, maps to potential careers where you could make best use of those and how to get into that.

What you've got will see you ok for the mo, but it's obviously stressing you. So, you need a vision and a plan for the future. But no, no way, no how are you being "selfish". Being a supermarket supervisor is only your destiny if that's actually your dream job. Doesn't sound like it is. So, no it isn't "as good as it gets" for people like us.