A list of suitable and unsuitable jobs

[Warwick C]

I recently joined a facbook group and they had this list on it. It also give a reason as to why.

My Aspergers Child: Best and Worst Jobs for Aspergers Adults

if any one can put it up as a copy and paste it would be appreciated.

 

[Kaylee]

i assume you just want the list and maybe are on mobile or something so here it is

Bad Jobs for Individuals with Aspergers—

• Air traffic controller -- Information overload and stress
• Airline ticket agent -- Deal with angry individuals when flights are cancelled
• Cashier -- making change quickly puts too much demand on short-term working memory
• Casino dealer -- Too many things to keep track of
• Futures market trader -- Totally impossible
• Receptionist and telephone operator -- Would have problems when the switch board got busy
• Short order cook -- Have to keep track of many orders and cook many different things at the same time
• Taking oral dictation -- Difficult due to auditory processing problems
• Taxi dispatcher -- Too many things to keep track of
• Waitress -- Especially difficult if have to keep track of many different tables

Good Jobs for Visual Thinkers—

• Animal trainer or veterinary technician -- Dog obedience trainer, behavior problem consultant
• Automobile mechanic -- Can visualize how the entire car works
• Building maintenance -- Fixes broken pipes, windows and other things in an apartment complex, hotel or office building
• Building trades -- Carpenter or welder. These jobs make good use of visual skills but some individuals will not be able to do them well due to motor and coordination problems.
• Commercial art -- Advertising and magazine layout can be done as freelance work
• Computer animation -- Visual thinkers would be very good at this field, but there is more competition in this field than in business or industrial computer programming. Businesses are recruiting immigrants from overseas because there is a shortage of good programmers in business and industrial fields.
• Computer programming -- Wide-open field with many jobs available especially in industrial automation, software design, business computers, communications and network systems
• Computer-troubleshooter and repair -- Can visualize problems in computers and networks
• Drafting -- Engineering drawings and computer aided drafting. This job can offer many opportunities. Drafting is an excellent portal of entry for many interesting technical jobs. I know individuals who started out at a company doing drafting and then moved into designing and laying out entire factories. To become really skilled at drafting, one needs to learn how to draw by hand first. I have observed that most of the individuals who draw beautiful drawings on a computer learned to draw by hand first. Individuals who never learn to draw by hand first tend to leave important details out of their drawings.
• Equipment designing -- Many industries, often a person starts as a draftsman and then moves into designing factory equipment
• Factory maintenance -- Repairs and fixes factory equipment
• Handcrafts of many different types such as wood carving, jewelry making, ceramics, etc.
• Laboratory technician -- Who modifies and builds specialized lab equipment
• Photography -- Still and video, TV cameraman can be done as freelance work
• Small appliance and lawnmower repair -- Can make a nice local business
• Video game designer -- Stay out of this field. Jobs are scarce and the field is overcrowded. There are many more jobs in industrial, communications business and software design computer programming. Another bad thing about this job is exposure to violent images.
• Web page design -- Find a good niche market can be done as freelance work

Good Jobs for Non-Visual Thinkers—

• Accounting -- Get very good in a specialized field such as income taxes
• Bank Teller -- Very accurate money counting, much less demand on short-term working memory than a busy cashier who mostly makes change quickly
• Clerk and filing jobs -- knows where every file is
• Computer programming -- Less visual types can be done as freelance work
• Copy editor -- Corrects manuscripts. Many individuals freelance for larger publishers
• Engineering -- Electrical, electronic and chemical engineering
• Inventory control -- Keeps track of merchandise stocked in a store
• Journalist -- Very accurate facts, can be done as freelance
• Laboratory technician -- Running laboratory equipment
• Library science -- reference librarian. Help individuals find information in the library or on the Internet.
• Physicist or mathematician -- There are very few jobs in these fields. Only the very brilliant can get and keep jobs. Jobs are much more plentiful in computer programming and accounting.
• Statistician -- Work in many different fields such as research, census bureau, industrial quality control, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, etc.
• Taxi driver -- Knows where every street is
• Telemarketing -- Get to repeat the same thing over and over, selling on the telephone. Noisy environment may be a problem. In telephone sales, you avoid many social problems.
• Tuning pianos and other musical instruments, can be done as freelance work

Jobs for Nonverbal Individuals with Aspergers—

• Copy shop -- Running photocopies. Printing jobs should be lined up by somebody else
• Data entry -- If the person has fine motor problems, this would be a bad job
• Factory assembly work -- Especially if the environment is quiet
• Fast food restaurant -- Cleaning and cooking jobs with little demand on short-term memory
• Janitor jobs -- Cleaning floors, toilets, windows and offices
• Lawn and garden work -- Mowing lawns and landscaping work
• Plant care -- Water plants in a large office building
• Recycling plant -- Sorting jobs
• Re-shelving library books -- Can memorize the entire numbering system and shelf locations
• Restocking shelves -- In many types of stores
• Warehouse -- Loading trucks, stacking boxes

 

[On the Inside]

I'll add two jobs to the "bad jobs" list, from my own experience.

Coffee shop barista. Fun if the shop isn't busy, but when it's the only one next to a college, the crowd gets overwhelming. Depending on your tolerance, the product can be detrimental.

Bartender. Same as above, but add a dizzying amount of drink recipes to memorize. Highly sociable, tip earnings dependent upon rapport with customers.

 

[Warwick C]

Thanks for doing that Kaylee, it will make it easier for others to read.

 

[AsheSkyler]

Anything heavily reliant on phones I'd imagine to be bad for Aspies. I would NEVER take a job in sales or telemarketing.

I'll repost in my blog when I get up to employment. Right now I'm doing a series on parenting. =)

 

[Aspergirl4hire]

To "good jobs" list, add technical writer--same advantages as journalist, and a higher probability of working with other aspies.

 

[Tom]

If you don't have and do not intend to seek a diagnosis, I can say the military is not a bad option. It depends on your personality of course, but the clear structure and rules can be a big plus. There are lots of different jobs within it, from very basic to highly technical. Once you learn the system, you don't have a lot of uncertainty about all the little details of life, how things will go or what will happen. Everything is sterotyped and exactly the same everywhere within the military under normal conditions. You just have to be ok with departing from your comfort zone and entering madness periodically and perhaps being blown to kingdom come at short notice. It sounds paradoxical, but some have that mixed desire for predictability and intensity in turn.

 

[inabox]

Anything heavily reliant on phones I'd imagine to be bad for Aspies. I would NEVER take a job in sales or telemarketing.

I'll repost in my blog when I get up to employment. Right now I'm doing a series on parenting. =)

Repairing phones is a different matter. It can be a good job for aspies. I agree with the computer repairer being on the good job list. I've been in a job repairing PCs and it is quite similar to repairing phones. I sat out back and spent my time doing what I enjoy. Tinkering with computers (or phones), figuring out what is wrong with it, not having to really speak to anyone for most of the day. It is also possible to do this from home. Then speak to even less people.

But i agree with sales/ telemarketing. I dread the time when I need to phone someone. It never goes well, I forget what I'm meant to say and don't get my point across at all well. And it's very stressful.

 

[On the Inside]

I worked as a salesperson in ski and bike shops in college years and a bit after, and really enjoyed it. These were special interests of mine, so I could talk ears off people about the equipment. While I was very knowledgeable, I never understood how to be a "true salesperson". Was never able to talk people into buying more than they were looking for, spending more than they were planning on, or "closing the sale". Most of the time, I let the customer find their way. I was just there to answer questions and process the sale if they decided to buy.

While I was never the sales leader, I did well. It helped to work in a low pressure environment.

 

[AsheSkyler]

Repairing phones is a different matter. It can be a good job for aspies. I agree with the computer repairer being on the good job list. I've been in a job repairing PCs and it is quite similar to repairing phones. I sat out back and spent my time doing what I enjoy. Tinkering with computers (or phones), figuring out what is wrong with it, not having to really speak to anyone for most of the day. It is also possible to do this from home. Then speak to even less people.

But i agree with sales/ telemarketing. I dread the time when I need to phone someone. It never goes well, I forget what I'm meant to say and don't get my point across at all well. And it's very stressful.

True, phone REPAIR wouldn't be so bad because you could indulge in analyzing and OCDing everything and be pretty happy with your work. But talking them, yes, not for the ones who struggle with disembodied communication. That's best left to the Aspies who excel at it.

I worked as a salesperson in ski and bike shops in college years and a bit after, and really enjoyed it. These were special interests of mine, so I could talk ears off people about the equipment. While I was very knowledgeable, I never understood how to be a "true salesperson". Was never able to talk people into buying more than they were looking for, spending more than they were planning on, or "closing the sale". Most of the time, I let the customer find their way. I was just there to answer questions and process the sale if they decided to buy.

While I was never the sales leader, I did well. It helped to work in a low pressure environment.

I did semi-sales at one point. It was just a video rental place and my job was just to man the cash register, but I had quite a few customers tell me I was good at helping them pick out movies. I didn't even watch them! I just read the backs, listened to other customers' commentary, and somehow managed to pick out social stereotypes to make decent recommendations. It can be fun making small talk.

 

[Kari Suttle]

I'm a cashier at walmart and there's definite good and bad points about it. I'll list them for reference.

Bad points:
- really bothers sensory issues if you're hypersensitive to noise like me.
- constant interaction with strangers, the customers.
- lots of supervisors that come and go who you may or may not be able to read who may or may not know how to deal with you, diagnosed or not.

Good points:
- Clear routine. Very clear routine. And expectations.
- About the noise, i can get around that issue most of the time by hyperfocusing on my current customer.
- About talking to said customers, i can get around that by scripting the entire 'conversation' with them. No small talk, just relevant, necessary questions plus a greeting and a farewell.

 

[King_Oni]

Going over this list, and all additions I feel there's a giant thing being overlooked. And perhaps it's just a thing that's going on in my country (and a few other ones) and less in the US where, as far as I know, while college degrees are expected, education is expensive and not everyone has proper access to it.

Plenty of these jobs might actually be a good fit for aspies, but what good is a list if access to these jobs is severly restricted because college or university makes one jump through hoops that might not even reflect the actual job/function?

I went to uni to study IT a few years ago, but when I'm expected to function within a team from the first week, while my expectation and choice for said field was that it's a solitairy job and any actual jobs heavily rely on job experience, internships and an actual diploma/degree none of these jobs will be realistic if you can't at least manage to jump through those hoops somewhat regularly.

Heck, over here, even to be a cashier they expect you to have at least finished high school with a good record (and I'm not even going to get into age discrimination, which happens plenty here; since... under 23 they can pay you only a percentage of your actual wage to encourage young adults to pursue education rather than employment early on; which prevents lots of jobs that have low requirements hard to come by unless you're a 17 year old wageslave).

I will say, that I had a few jobs in the past that were pretty ok on a regular basis and were nothing like the drama that's part of the route college forces you through and thus probably manageble for aspies. Getting there however... has always been a bigger issue. I'm still convinced that if you can haul yourself through the educational system, even if it's with a bit of support here or there, you're not as much at a disadvantage as one who can't even manage to get that foundation down.

 

[Progster]

I would like to add kindergarten, primary and secondary education teacher to the list of jobs not suitable for an Aspie. Too much interaction, background noise, having to deal with sudden changes, staffroom politics, too much info to process at once - I tried it and failed, I don't recommend it, though I have heard of successful teachers with AS.

Private one-on-one tuition is ok and a lot easier to manage.

 

[Hopeless_Aspie_Guy]

OK I'm really surprised no-one has mentioned the following as jobs aspies can't do, and certainly (still undiagnosed) I can't do.

Any job involving sales where you have to sell attachments and warranties etc as the main kpi, telesales, door-to-door sales- these all involve having to be pushy and being totally inconsiderate of the people you're pushing the sales pitch onto, I am the opposite of being unempathetic in that I'm too overly empathetic perhaps and am anxious (so afriad to annoy people by being pushy and then blaming myself).

Also any job that'd involve pestering strangers (i.e getting people to sign up to things) or perhaps a job based heavily on building relationships with a client.

I'd be able to do some or most of the jobs listed as 'bad for aspies' too. But I'm a very slow learner to begin with.

I would like to add kindergarten, primary and secondary education teacher to the list of jobs not suitable for an Aspie. Too much interaction, background noise, having to deal with sudden changes, staffroom politics, too much info to process at once.

I would've thought it'd have been hard more so because you're the centre of attention (especially in secondary school) of 30 kids (some of which misbehave), you'd be self-consciouse and might question your actions towards someone.

I'm a cashier at walmart and there's definite good and bad points about it. I'll list them for reference.

Bad points:
- really bothers sensory issues if you're hypersensitive to noise like me.
- constant interaction with strangers, the customers.
- lots of supervisors that come and go who you may or may not be able to read who may or may not know how to deal with you, diagnosed or not.

Good points:
- Clear routine. Very clear routine. And expectations.
- About the noise, i can get around that issue most of the time by hyperfocusing on my current customer.
- About talking to said customers, i can get around that by scripting the entire 'conversation' with them. No small talk, just relevant, necessary questions plus a greeting and a farewell.

I found that to be as interesting as it was strangely humorous

 

[Progster]

I would've thought it'd have been hard more so because you're the centre of attention (especially in secondary school) of 30 kids (some of which misbehave), you'd be self-consciouse and might question your actions towards someone.

Yes, this can be an issue too, especially with new students, but it wasn't the main issue for me. I learnt to project my voice and and mask my anxiety and feelings of awkwardness - but this constant effort and stress took its toll and left me exhausted at the end of the day, far more so than my NT colleages, who took the interaction with the students in their stride.

My main issues were that I was unable to, or slow to pick up on mood changes and things going on in the classroom beneath the surface which weren't immediately obvious. I couldn't keep track of everything going on in the classroom and kept missing things. Also, I can't change focus rapidly, so students would say something to me and I wouldn't respond because my focus was elsewhere. I didn't even register that they had spoken at times. At one school I worked at, they even thought I had a hearing problem and suggested I go to the doctor's to get it checked out. I couldn't hear over background noise, either. It was too hard to manage so many kids at once. I found it really hard to engage the students, and keep them engage, and tended to talk too much or lecture to them, not enough student - teacher interaction, though I did try to address thse issues. Kids have a way of picking up on any weakness a teacher may have and exploiting it, so I soon had classroom management (discipline) issues to deal with too, and I couldn't handle that. I once tried working in a kindergarten, and I was told that I wasn't suitable because I wasn't connecting with the kids. As for staffroom politics, don't even get me started on this - somehow I made an enemy of another member of staff who was very influential and she had the others gang up against me and chuck me out. I don't think anyone liked, or understood me.

So now I don't work for a school, or teach a class - I'm self-employed as a private language teacher. I still find the constant interaction exhausting, but I work for myself at home in my own environment and on my own terms - in general and much better and more viable option for an aspie who is interested in teaching.

 

[Warwick C]

I think some aspies can work as a cashier, but it is not as easy as for a normal person.

Well done on being able to do it Kari Suttle. A former member Arashi also works at a grocery store.

 

[Hopeless_Aspie_Guy]

As for staffroom politics, don't even get me started on this - somehow I made an enemy of another member of staff who was very influential and she had the others gang up against me and chuck me out.

Sounds like an episode out of grange hill, teachers or waterloo road (google them if you're unaware of them as a result of not being English). I assume accusing 'said influential staff member' of being unprofessional and childlike' didn't help, assuming you didn't just say that in your mind as oppose to aloud.

 

[wyverary]

Being in retail myself, I can echo most of what Kari Suttle has said. Except I work in a MUCH smaller environment, which means fewer supervisors, a more laid-back atmosphere with a slightly more egalitarian bent, and more autonomy. Following a script is especially helpful, especially when I am having an "off day" and feeling very anti-social. On the best of days, I can carry on a real conversation, or direct someone towards some location or ever.

Caveats? Gotta make sure I have hand sanitizer on hand at all times, especially this time of year and dealing with so much cash. Not for the most neurotic among us.

 

[Harrison]

I moved to being an employee after decades of being the boss and the job I'm in now seems to attract a fair number of people on the spectrum.

Rescue/recovery patrol, I get to drive a nice truck fitted with the latest wireless rescue technology. The job is mentally complex at times with accident or ditch recoveries but just playing with the 'toys' I have is fun enough. I have to deal with the public but I've learnt to script virtually everything they can ask, but that can go by the wayside sometimes and I've just learnt to wing it. The truck is its own wi-fi 'hotspot', primarily for the customers use but we are allowed to log our gear into it, so I can even stay in touch here courtesy of my firm.

 

[Warwick C]

Harrison is that a recovery truck for cars?

I am surprised/pleased with the response to the thread.
A lot of use ful information coming in.