Good jobs for autistic people???

[AngelWings17]

If you've ready my previous posts that mention my job, you can probably tell that I hate it ant it's too stressful. I need to find another job. Preferably one that's Aspie friendly.

And also, if the job allows visible tattoos and facial piercings then that's a bonus!

I am striving to work with animals, now I'm thinking of being a dog trainer, but for right now I just need a job that won't cause near meltdowns and force me to escape the retail floor to cool down. And since Aspies are generally bad at customer service jobs, I would prefer no customer service jobs listed. And even though I got declined my McDonald's a few times, Brian is pushing me to stay away from working there to save my sanity.

 

[AsheSkyler]

To avoid customer service, you're probably going to need a grunt job like a cattle stockyard, construction, truck driving, heavy machinery, and stuff like that. Manly man jobs.

 

[Kari Suttle]

I agree, only grunt work and heavy labor type jobs require little people contact. Unless you have a college degree in something technical...and even then idk. I work as a cashier and the only reason i can make it cause i script my conversations with everyone, and even then its not really a conversation. Its a greeting with polite inquiries about how they want their stuff bagged followed up with a hopefully pleasant have a nice day type ending. The only reason i avoid anxiety attacks on the daily at my cashier job is because i hyper-focus on the current customer I'm checking out. That's the only reason i can make it at my part timer as a cashier.

 

[clg114]

For me, working alone was/is the secret to my successful working career. I have always worked as a field service technician and had little contact with my co-workers or my customers. I spent 95% of my time working alone. My employer was happy because I made them money and the customers were happy because they got their problem solved. I know that we are all different, but this seems to me to be key for most Aspies.

 

[AngelWings17]

To avoid customer service, you're probably going to need a grunt job like a cattle stockyard, construction, truck driving, heavy machinery, and stuff like that. Manly man jobs.

I agree, only grunt work and heavy labor type jobs require little people contact. Unless you have a college degree in something technical...and even then idk. I work as a cashier and the only reason i can make it cause i script my conversations with everyone, and even then its not really a conversation. Its a greeting with polite inquiries about how they want their stuff bagged followed up with a hopefully pleasant have a nice day type ending. The only reason i avoid anxiety attacks on the daily at my cashier job is because i hyper-focus on the current customer I'm checking out. That's the only reason i can make it at my part timer as a cashier.

I will be running my own dog training business and webstore in the near future, but for right now i just need to get enough money to do so. And I don't have my license yet, but I'm working on it.

 

[AngelWings17]

For me, working alone was/is the secret to my successful working career. I have always worked as a field service technician and had little contact with my co-workers or my customers. I spent 95% of my time working alone. My employer was happy because I made them money and the customers were happy because they got their problem solved. I know that we are all different, but this seems to me to be key for most Aspies.

That's exactly like it with me. I don't mind contact with people, but unless animals are involved physically or as part of the conversation, then I'm stressed. And that's only for working. Hanging with friends is a different story.

 

[clg114]

I will be running my own dog training business and webstore in the near future, but for right now i just need to get enough money to do so. And I don't have my license yet, but I'm working on it.

If you can do it, being self-employed is also a good idea. I have been self-employed for the last eight years and I really wish that I would have done it sooner. Work hard and be patient. All good things take time.

 

[UniqueChic]

I am unemployed and desperately need and want to earn a paycheck. Problems with getting past the hour-long-difficult-questions interview. I clamp up or I get tongue tied. Can someone please offer some suggestions.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

The best jobs are the ones that you can relate to a special interest. So you can focus on it for a long period of time and really get into it. Easier for some than others depending on your interests but if you can weave it in there all the better.

 

[UniqueChic]

Like your name@ Southern Discomfort and thanks for your imput.

 

[wanderer03]

I am unemployed and desperately need and want to earn a paycheck. Problems with getting past the hour-long-difficult-questions interview. I clamp up or I get tongue tied. Can someone please offer some suggestions.

It would help us to know what kinds of jobs you are seeking and what your skill sets and interests are.

Rather than thinking about what good jobs for Aspies in general are, why not consider what is good for you? Consider your wants, likes/dislikes, and needs. When I sat down to do this, I took into account that I hate offices and cubicles. I want to keep customer service and social interaction to a minimum. I began a career in driving. I got my CDL and all related endorsements. Even within this career field, I had to learn what kind of driving I like and what kinds I hate. This job is good for aspies so long as they like to drive and are competent at it.

 

[Kupu2]

I did the whole 'special interests' thing for years. My academic passion is socio-cultural anthropology, with specialisation in identity theory and nationalism. The problem, for me, with this approach is that I lost the enjoyment of it. It became a chore with heavy demands to justify my getting paid. Data was used for purposes I disagreed with. I also loathe what some humans do to each other and found insidious, covert genocidal policies by governments too much to handle. Gave me a nervous breakdown.

I am now working with trucks, doing an apprenticeship. Yup, a female in my 40s. It isn't my dying passion, but I am fascinated enough to turn up each day, pour my energies and go home. There is NOTHING emotional about my job, so doesn't destroy my soul like academia did. I keep up my interest in anthropological theory and still enjoy a tryst with Homi Bhabha now and then.

Moral of the story - do something you can sustain without causing yourself grief. I'd be happy working cleaning if left alone. Or doing something without politics. Know what hurts you and stay away from envirnments and jobs that have those things. Know what you can keep up and look to those qualities in a job.

 

[buttercuplols]

I did the whole 'special interests' thing for years. My academic passion is socio-cultural anthropology, with specialisation in identity theory and nationalism. The problem, for me, with this approach is that I lost the enjoyment of it. It became a chore with heavy demands to justify my getting paid. Data was used for purposes I disagreed with. I also loathe what some humans do to each other and found insidious, covert genocidal policies by governments too much to handle. Gave me a nervous breakdown.

I am now working with trucks, doing an apprenticeship. Yup, a female in my 40s. It isn't my dying passion, but I am fascinated enough to turn up each day, pour my energies and go home. There is NOTHING emotional about my job, so doesn't destroy my soul like academia did. I keep up my interest in anthropological theory and still enjoy a tryst with Homi Bhabha now and then.

Moral of the story - do something you can sustain without causing yourself grief. I'd be happy working cleaning if left alone. Or doing something without politics. Know what hurts you and stay away from envirnments and jobs that have those things. Know what you can keep up and look to those qualities in a job.

Massive respect to you with your apprenticeship in your 40s! Especially in what I assume is quite a male dominated area of study! I wish someone had even told me about apprenticeships before I did my college studies!

 

[UniqueChic]

I would definitely prefer to work from home. I hate having to dress up for work.

 

[Kupu2]

Massive respect to you with your apprenticeship in your 40s! Especially in what I assume is quite a male dominated area of study! I wish someone had even told me about apprenticeships before I did my college studies!

Yup. Uni was a waste of cash and time. Great for my penchant for navel gazing, but gave no useful, marketable skills. Trades offer a world of valuable life skills (having to negotiate a micro real world), skills that have a use and a pay cheque I feel I've earned.

You never know, Ms Buttercuplols, where you will end up. I chose a career I knew would be the hardest for me, cos I know I will grow. It is the battles of life that scar us and make us better folk. I always choose the rockiest road. I have more to gain.

 

[Kupu2]

I would definitely prefer to work from home. I hate having to dress up for work.

I am assuming you are still very young. It may take lots of trial and error to weed out what works best for you. That can be half the fun, my sweet! The drive to have "THE" Career is a pressure we don't need. A vague sense of what you'd like to try is all that is needed. Try it and see. If it doesn't work, that's cool. Just as valuable as finding the right thing.

 

[UniqueChic]

Hmmm, maybe apprenticeship for graphic design? I think I'll go for that.

 

[UniqueChic]

Thank you, I'm actually 44 and just somehow managed to blend in and adapt. I never sought help with autism before, but now I'm at a place where I really must humble myself and ask for help.

 

[buttercuplols]

Thanks Kupu2. I've spent years chasing 'careers' as my mum told me to. Now I'm looking at writing courses for my own enjoyment more than anything else. I can cope with 'poor' if it doesn't pan out. I'm much less tolerant of unhappiness for financial gain as I've gotten older. I guess it's just part of growing and learning who you are and what you can cope with longer term. I know I'm not kitted out for the sleepless nights of bar management and nursing now. At least I've struck two off the list to narrow my options now! I quite like the excitement of a change of direction so long as I'm mentally prepared and it's on my terms. Really enjoying my own company and getting lost in my own world of fiction when I write. I can be at my desk flat out for hours before I realise I MUST go for a wee and eat! New special interest, I reckon! Give me a while and I'll be pointing you all in the direction of my novel on Amazon hopefully. All the best with your trucks. I love engineering and mechanics but it doesn't come naturally to me. I'm more of a tinkerer at home, taking radios and printers to bits for fun.

 

[UniqueChic]

Thank you, Sportster. It was an informative site, although I don't have a college degree nor the money to pay for college.