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New Pizza Delivery Job. Need advice.

BraidedPony said:
A job is a job. What is unreal about making money?
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Like they used to say on stuff like the Flintstones "Huh, it's a living", sums up some jobs IMO, you just do it because it's a job, keeps the Wolf from the door,not that good if you don't actually like or enjoy what you're doing.
 
I find that they did not know what Aspergers was, a little amusing. 'Cheese, Pepperoni, no Aspergers'.
 
novart said:
I did pizza delivery for ~10 years. I had to get a job after high school, it was more of a desperate choice since I didn't know how I would sit in an office, work well with coworkers always around me and a boss or two over my shoulder. Granted over half of that was spent in one of the ranked safest cities in America (at least at that time). Very rich area, so not only was being off socially relatively more accepted but when it wasn't the big tips still made it feel worth it.

I worked in two poorer areas after that, including areas that had to have gang injuctions and even some roads we simply could not take orders from. I absolutely felt like a target, but nothing ever happened. Maybe it was luck but I started to think like I belonged in those areas I delivered to because, well, I did. I think that attitude helps you blend in. Just a scrawny white kid in a hispanic neighborhood walking past literal gang members and no one bats an eye.

Check the place you work at, feel it out and don't get down if it isn't right. At my first job we didn't give much of a damn about "acceptance", my disabilities were not known to my employers but we still had a good time and I was treated as well as anyone else. At the two other jobs where I did have my disability registered I faced outright harassment and in one case was physically assaulted by an assistant manager until I quit both.

Side jobs are important too. My first job had it's own cooks, a dishwasher, etc. All I had to do was focus on delivering pizzas, and from there I could lend a hand when I could. The latter two jobs had me scrambling to do so many things it made my head spin and my delivering suffered as a result.

It can be pretty exciting. I had never had "work" go so quickly, I'd always go home amazed that I actually managed to do it. I also learned how to do small talk from the hundreds upon hundreds of houses I went to.
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Its an interesting insight and quite believeable. But just for the record it is regularly one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs listed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It was on my mind because one was killed during a robbery recently here in my town.
 
Tom said:
I find that they did not know what Aspergers was, a little amusing. 'Cheese, Pepperoni, no Aspergers'.
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I used to post on an American wrestling forum, and when they found out (not from me) about me being Aspie, they called it "Asparagus Syndrome", totally and utterly wrong!
 
Congratulations on the new job. Your concerns tell me that you want to do well. That's the right attitude. For your own protection, try not to worry about situations that you haven't had to face yet. If you can think on your feet, you'll be able to handle all situations. From my own experience, I know that I rely on the traditional Asperger need for predictability and routine. You'll need to be very patient with yourself as you become acquainted with the environment and the procedures. Over-preparing can be as deadly as going in blindly. Our brains are carrying too much detail for us to pay attention properly and learn from the experience. As a side note, pizza delivery people usually get tips as a matter of course, but the happy, smiley, personable ones get the extra bucks. Enjoy the new experience.
 
Tom said:
Its an interesting insight and quite believeable. But just for the record it is regularly one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs listed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It was on my mind because one was killed during a robbery recently here in my town.
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Yea you're probably right, just my experience or at least my perception of it. I remember feeling fairly freaked out when that delivery driver years back was kidnapped, strapped with a bomb and forced to rob a bank only to blow up on camera. I had a delivery that night to an address that was just a hill with a house under construction. It was only an incorrect number and I didn't get out of my car, but man lol

Who knows, maybe I got that confidence from the autism version of Stockholm Syndrome. They won't target me, I'm one of them!
 
Using good judgement never hurt anyone so try to be sensible about where you will deliver and where not. Not worth your life or your job to put yourself in danger. By the same token, don't be imagining danger where there isn't any. SLOW deep breathing will calm you down if you feel anxious- slow it down as much as you can. Do it for a minute or two.
 
I would ask myself in advance, what is the absolute worst realistic thing that could go wrong on your first day? Now pretend that this thing does happen.
The worst thing would mean that you simply do not return for a 2nd day, and this is no worse than not being hired to begin with. This might help you relax, knowing that the worst thing will have no consequences.
This should help you relax, and increase your chances of having a successful first day, and so on and so on.
 
OrdinaryCitizen said:
Cannot think of any position that will count "pizza delivery" as valuable experience if you specify it in your resume.
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It might be a rubbish low paid job, but at least if you put it on your CV it shows you're willing and able to do rubbish low paid jobs if you have to.
 
If you do have to deliver in bad neighborhoods, then keep a twenty dollar bill with you to give to anyone who robs you. Keep in mind that they usually just want money. I used to live in New Orleans where the thugs would shoot you if you had no money to give them.
 
Pizza delivery provides valuable job experience which varies by location.

Pizza Delivery Driver Resume Samples | JobHero

Customer service is certainly one.
The ability to follow through on directions, handle money, and the
classic "shows up for work" (dependable, responsible) are qualities
required for many jobs.
 
Time for an update.

On my first day of the job, I really enjoyed the people I worked with. My manager, indeed, was very sympathetic as he had a family member with asperger's. Dream job, right? Right.

But, there's a sting in the tale. A few weeks ago, my doctor prescribed to me 25 mg of Zoloft, because I was suffering from anxiety, rumination, OCD, and mild depression. On the 3rd week, I found my symptoms getting WORSE. I cried for no reason when I'm alone, more irritable, more anxious, less appetite, losing a lot of weight, and suicidal thoughts. Yesterday, I was writing a note and planning how to kill myself by hanging myself in the garage. The grace of God stopped me, threw away the tie surrounding my neck, and went to my mother. My mother was very empathetic, as she went through the same emotions once before, and told me to make an appointment to taper off of this drug as soon as possible.

I sent an email to Donatos,telling them that I would be quitting and focusing on healing my brain. I'm going to be doing some meditation exercises, mindfulness training, going to see a therapist for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and more.

Pray for me. I'm in deperate need of help. I want to be happy again. I want to be healthy again!
 
You are defintely in our prayers.
With the autism spectrum being so wide and diverse, I imagine that prescibing the best medication for each individual would be very difficult.
If you choose to go back to this job after your therapy succeeds with its intended effect,it will probably be there waiting for you.
 
Mary Terry said:
If you do have to deliver in bad neighborhoods, then keep a twenty dollar bill with you to give to anyone who robs you. Keep in mind that they usually just want money. I used to live in New Orleans where the thugs would shoot you if you had no money to give them.
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Interesting, a major pizza chain I worked at limited us to $20 change in total (excluding money just collected from a delivery) to deter robberies. I even got in trouble for having my regular money in my wallet instead of locking it up first.
 
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