Manageable jobs for autistic people

These are really interesting suggestions, thank you. And that's a good point about office jobs. I pursued an office job because I thought it would be less stressful/demanding! I love spreadsheets and organising so I thought it would be just sitting at a desk all day getting on with it, I could never have predicted how wrong I was! So many things to juggle, pressure, office politics, multitasking, fluorescent lights, constant chatter, unbelievably stressful. The social and multitasking elements are the hardest for me I think. I think you're right the office environment isn't good for us. Thank you for your ideas!

Thank you for saying that. That sounds really hard, I'm glad you've found something that works. I work from home 2 days a week and those days are the easiest ones for me. I would love to find something fully remote but those roles seem competitive, I keep getting rejected. God, phone calls are torturous!! It's so embarrassing when someone calls me on the phone at work because I literally can't get my words out. I usually just send a Teams message saying I can't pick up the phone lol

No it isnt a pointless question.  If it wasnt on the group I would have posted it.  Work has always been a struggle for me.  I now work from home and I can concentrate in my own environment.  I do speak to people over the phone and sometimes gets stressful but its best job I have ever had.  I job hopped for a couple of decades due to bullying or unable to cope in certain environments.

This is a really good point, thank you. I had tried to pursue freelance work before but found the lack of stability a bit anxiety-inducing. But your comment has made me realise the job I'm in now poses its own problems because the hours are completely wrong for me and there's nothing I can do to change that. I thought because I'm autistic I would like the routine of full-time employment but have learnt this doesn't make sense for me. Thank you for your suggestion, it is really helpful to consider this!

Yes, that makes sense. Sorry if it was a silly question. I think it just often feels hopeless and I know a lot of autistic people struggle work at all so I was wondering if there were any specific jobs that are suited to our high sensitivities etc. but I realise each autistic person's struggle is different to the next. I personally struggle a lot with having too many demands/multitasking, and having too much social interactions, but then my mum who is autistic loves socialising so I guess my question was a bit pointless, sorry about that. But thank you for the support.

I'm sorry to hear it's been so hard for you too. But I'm glad you've found something that suits you. That's a very good point about finding something that aligns with your special interest. That really resonates with me too, as I used to work for a charity and found I was much more motivated to make the job work (even when I was struggling) because it was for something I was really interested in and care about. Since reading your comment a few days ago I have actually been thinking about ways I could redirect my career back to something I'm interested in and I'm feeling more hopeful, so really thank you so much for your advice! 

As others have said, it is a wide question due to the range of different autistic folks, so it really depends on your needs.  It's sometimes suggested to me that I should go for promotion or I look at my peers and see them having "progressed" further than me.  I like a job where I learn something new every day, have supportive colleagues, some flexibility and control over my own work.  Those things are more important to me than promotion or money (as long as I have enough to get by), so the idea at the moment of going for something else feels like a risk and it needs to be the right opportunity.  So I'd start there at what things in a job are most important for you to narrow it down - what things are must haves, what can you live with and what are definitely noes.
I noticed from your profile that you're an artist and you have interest in social causes.  Might be hard to find but could you consider combining that in some way, I'm thinking working in a gallery or museum, looking at social care, maybe art therapy?  Hours and how flexible you want to be and money of course would also need to be factored in.

Good luck!

I was in a job which most would think completely unsuitable for an autisic person. However, it allowed me frequent periods through the day when I was alone and in control so could recover. As others have said, we are all different whether we are autisic or not. However  for us autistic it is important to have times through the day when we can recover and de-stress. Also having control can be really helpful which is why self employment is sometimes good. However, dealing with HMIP for tax etc can be very stressful.

HI.  How did you come to realise about the burnout?  How log ago was you diagnosed?

It may be that you can't anymore.  My first real burnout was about 15 years back.  I was working for a well known supermaket and the night manager took me to one side and gave me a dressing down, said I was bad at my job, asked me why I came to work there and summised in a round about way that I should go end my life and stop disappointing other people.  And then i walked away and didn't work for two years.  Signed off for the first year with depression, work related stress, and deteriorating health.  Then a year on Incapacity after it.  That was my first real burnout.  i've had a few more since then. 

It may be that you can never teach again.  My sister had something similar, but due to stress and it nearly killed her.  She no longer teaches and her health is pretty much permanently wrecked because she tried to keep going when she needed to step back.

What am i saying.  If you are sick, you are sick.  If you can never teach again, then that is simply reality.  Embrace it.  Then come up with a new plan that allows you to work and maybe in a better environment.  Maybe try to find a smaller school somewhere , with less stress and smaller class sizes.  Maybe supply teaching so you can keep earning money, but if it gets too much you can bin it and take a time out for a while.  Engineer work life to suit your life.

I am a teacher and have just realised I’ve had autistic burnout for 3 years. I have been on the sick for a few weeks now. I don’t know how I can continue teaching. I’m stuck. 

Hi there,

I think the pace in the workplace and the information processing speed at which everything goes at the moment, what with technology and change, and an increase in pressure around boosting the economy is hitting us all. Also, I don't know about you but morale in the room if it is low does impact too. I can do any job (probably not any! you know what I mean though) so long as I have autonomy, a work environment that suits me and my hours are flexible. After years of battling to remain in clinical practice I gave up and realised how much better I can work with better suited conditions. I've not got to the best balance yet but that is what I've learned after some serious burnouts over the years.

I hope you find a change that suits you too. 

Kindest Regards

Samantha 

Library assistant? 

I lead a team of solution architects, mostly working on bids, so I’m responsible for the overall design of IT systems - software, infrastructure, support service etc.

What kind of IT job do you have>

Sim said:

Does anyone know any jobs that are well suited to autistic adults? 

Landscape gardener.  Tree Surgeon.  Stonemason.

A late I've been researching doing a stone wall building course.  The money is good, you get to work outside and probably a lot of the time, you get to work on your own away from people.  If you can manage your time well, then maybe a possibility.

Same goes for Tree surgeon.  Do a C&G L2 in Arboriculture and see where it takes you.  The L3 is more interesting, but it takes two years to complete.  On a similar note, the L2 Horticulture might suit you.

Forest Ranger for Forestry Commision, National Trust, etc.

I think the jobs that suit people with ASD are more related to the arts and nature, than working in offices.  You work in offices and you always have stress of some sort and the environments are generally not the best.  Yes you can do it, but what state you come out in is not guaranteed.  I have known a few people that did cyber security and pen testing and they on average made it to three years before complete burnout and two of them had nervous breakdowns.

I used to be a Reach FLT driver and I think if you are a person that can occupy themselves mentally and deal with the boredom it's a pretty easy job.  You go to a pallet, pick it up, take it to racking, store it, rinse repeat.

If you want to make lots of money then art type careers are not going to be your thing unless you paint like a master and have some skill in marketing.  But in terms of job satisfaction, if you build a wall, then that wall might remain there for a long time.  If you plant 100 trees in a field, you have something you can see that shows an achievement.  If I do something and feel accomplishment and I see that thing for years to come, then that represents something real that I did.

Sorry hard to put into words.

LOL, are you working for my same company? My senior Inf. is suffering from both ASD and OCD, the slightest deviation from procedure makes him angry to no end. Thankfully, he found a supportive management and a work environment where ASD is almost a prerequisite lol.

Hi!

Our autistic community is very diverse, however I think that self employment/freelance works very well for many of us because of the level of autonomy it provides.

For example, I have become involved in writing blogs about my autistic experiences recently and potentially I could pursue this as a paid career.

 I hope this helps!

Sim said:

Does anyone know any jobs that are well suited to autistic adults? 

This question is raised often in this place.  It is one that I find a little triggering (my problem, not yours Simeranio) because I perceive it as a meaningless question.  Autistic people are SO SO VERY VARIED that one cannot possibly proffer an answer.

Some autistic people make excellent TV presenters.  Some autistic people make excellent scientists.  Some autistic people make excellent CEO's.  Some autistic people are excellent with animals.  Some autistic people are excellent crisis managers.  Some autistic people are excellent till operators.  

.......And the opposites are also all true too.

Only you can know what you are well suited for.....and perhaps more importantly......how much energy you can reliably muster to do it.

I wish you well in your search - it does sound like your current role is not working for you so I hope you will be able to determine what else you should do, and then secure it for yourself.

Happy hunting.

I have a senior role in IT architecture and I have been struggling with chronic burnout for three years now, but I have managed that career for more than 20 years.  It's not that I'm recommending you switch to IT, but I think I have been able to manage it because I am very interested in technology and enjoy many aspects of the job.

I think that's the key. All jobs will present us with challenges - just getting up in the morning is often a struggle for me! - but if you can find something that aligns with your special interests it becomes much more sustainable, as elements of the job may actively recharge you instead of draining you.