Published on 12, July, 2020
I've never had a job before. My family encouraged me to stay dependent on government benefits. But I feel like in the long run it'd be better for me to earn my own income and not rely on agencies that don't want to give me their money. Thing is that I don't have any particular aspirations or likes. I just know the things I can't do. As much as I'd prefer a work from home job, there are lifestyle benefits to a job you have to go out and do that might be too important to ignore. So what sort of jobs work well for high functioning autism? Gimme something to think about since I don't really have any ideas for myself.
It's worth factoring in just how hellishly competitive the job market is in the UK, competition for even the most basic roles is fierce. When you apply to jobs, you need to show you're above and beyond the rest. I'd set up a LinkedIn profile and consider running a blog/YouTube channel or doing some sort of outside-of-work activity to show you're active and creative. Volunteering is a great start, too.
Have you got any work experience?
If you want to work from home, those sort of roles are limited now following the Tory anti-WFH propaganda over the last year or so. That's been instrumental in forcing most businesses to insist everyone sits in expensive real estate for no reason.
But! There are still WFH jobs, it's just competition to get them will be very, very fierce: Look out for roles such as:
- Data entry clerk (great starting position, one I had in 2011)
- Content writer/freelance writer
- Apprenticeships (check your local council site for beginner roles)
- Volunteering at local charities.
Not trying to put you off here, but don't set your sights purely on a WFH role. You'll be left disappointed as the UK has moved away from that. People who got a remote role 2 years ago in the boom are now being ordered back into the office.
Oran G. Utan said:Thing is that I don't have any particular aspirations or likes
Again, it's not about picking or choosing. Just focus on something and try to get into the role. That basic start can then lead to better things once you've got the experience.
The most important thing is to show you're enthusiastic and eager to get into work.
There are plenty of apprenticeships in digital marketing, for example, it's just not a particularly good environment for autistic people. As I've found. But I've just battled through it, despite the negative impact on my health, to get a career set up.
If you want a slow, steady start I'd suggest freelancing.
Find something you want to write about (video games, for example) and then make pitches to the various sites around online. Pay wouldn't be amazing, but you're tax exempt if you're making less than £11k a year.