Valuing Aspie skills in the marketplace?

[Geordie]

Some IT experts noted the extra care needed to manage employees with autism as these individuals were prone to sudden outbursts and would not be able to work for long stretches of time. This might discourage companies here from hiring such individuals, even if they possessed the required skillsets.

Most in the roundtable, though, agreed making these consultants' skills available at below market rate would be unfair and also create an incorrect perception their skills were of a lower value simply because they had ASD (autism spectrum disorder).

It's a Catch-22 situation I think companies like Speicalisterne will inevitably face in this harsh business reality.

by Eileen Yu

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How do you value your skills in the marketplace?

 

[King_Oni]

How do you value your skills in the marketplace?

Non-existant, lol

The things I'm good at, I'm only good at cause I have intrinsic motivation and thus for personal goals. All other things I both don't care about and I'm not "good" at. In that sense I'm probably no good employee for any company who wants "quality" work. And I'm quite sure companies all want quality work to sustain a health business.

The only time I see my skills valued as something is when both my personal as well as company goals are the same.

As to how I value them? Give me more time and options to work my skills, I might eventually figure out a way to make a goal out of a company goal, and work with both the skills and motivation I might have thereof. I just don't see it happening the way it's going on now.

 

[Geordie]

I don't know what's my skills now.

However, I know if I work on my skills with adequate social support, I'll do well in life and in my career.

Hence, I think my skills are worth equal with enough to not make me think of money, or rather, slightly higher than market rate in jobs that I can make the best out of my skills. Sounds ego-maniac? Well, I think everyone faces the same pressures to compare their pay checks with one another - while also involving oneself in his interests.

 

[Loomis]

I have had different jobs over my lifetime and I was good at what I did. I worked in accounting for 20 plus years as a financial analyst. I could condense complex data into a worksheet management could use to make decisions. I worked my way up to an annual six figure income before my career suddenly ended. It was not a happy end but I accept it and am glad to be out of the corporate world. I also worked in science for several years and performed well. I did highly analytic work, published in academic journals and was pleased with the results. Now, although I am facing major financial difficulties because I have not worked for three years I am optimistic. I am using what is left of my retirement savings to trade in the precious metals markets. It took me two years to become good at learning to minimize risk. During that period I neither made nor lost money but I learned how the markets worked and how to minimize losses. This last year I have started to make money because I am developing the skill now to increase my gains. Effectively and profitably trading the markets can be easily described: cut your losses short and let your profits run. This is deceptively simple because the execution is very difficult. Well, I am making money now and hope to continue on this path. The beauty of this is that I never have to deal with a NT. I just need my keyboard, a mouse and an internet connection. Autistics who are comfortable with risk are well suited to trading the markets because they are better than neurotypicals at interpreting vast inflows of complex data. You only need to find a few patterns that have good predictability. Moreover, autistics can make decisions unemotionally. NTs often lose money in the market because their emotions interfere with their trading.

I think trading, however, is suitable for only a small percentage of autistics. You must not be risk-averse. It is a peculiarity of my own psychology that I am not bothered by high-risk situations.

 

[Loomis]

Here are a couple of quotes that support my thesis that autistics can process trading information more effectively than neurotypicals and that they can seperate their emotions from their logic processing systems more effectively than neurotypicals.

"People with autism have a greater than normal capacity for processing information even from rapid presentations and are better able to detect information defined as 'critical', according to a study published March 22 in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology?. Our study clearly shows that people with autism can do better than typical adults in tasks involving rapid presentations of a lot of information,"

People with autism possess greater ability to process information, study suggests


"Non-autistic people seem to have a whole upper layer of verbal thinking that is merged with their emotions. By contrast, unless I panic, I use logic to make all decisions; my thinking can be done independently of emotion. In fact, I seem to lack a higher consciousness composed of abstract verbal thoughts that are merged with emotion."

My Mind is a Web Browser: How People with Autism Think

 

[Loomis]

One more point about my career in accounting. When I first went into the NT corporate world, I was lost in confusion and inept. I had the good fortune to find an excellent therapist who helped me to navigate this arcane world. I knew there were expected modes of behavior and I knew I did not understand them. It took me about six years before I started to get it. (I also did not know I was an aspie. I knew I had major social problems but no clue why. I only found this out 30 years later.) My first experience as a supervisor was a total disaster. I had to leave that job because I could not control my staff, they rebelled against me. I found another job and eventually I even learned how to manage people. It was a long painful slog and I was never comfortable. I mostly hated my job and experienced anxiety nearly continuously. But I got better and better at dealing with NTs. Never good at it, mind you, but passable. The end of my carreer is best not discussed, It was a very nasty ending.

My science career ended because I never finished my PhD. I had gotten married at the same time and could not manage both the marriage and my PhD efforts. I chose the marriage over the PhD and have a wonderful, sweetheart, aspie boy who is a genius in music but totally unable to deal with the NT world. I fear for his future.

 

[earthsteward70]

I used to do customer service over the phone. I knew that I was good at it, however, it wasn't fulfilling, or so I thought. I craved helping people in person so that they could tell me thanks in person. I found that to be a mistake. I became a CNA, and as a CNA, I knew the patients valued me, I always felt inadequate comparing myself to the others in their speed, and wits. I always justified my work performance as: I am not the fastest in body or mind, but I am thorough, and kind. Sometimes I miss it. When momma died I did OK for about 3 months, then I went through a mental breakdown because of delayed grief. I kinda lost the heart for it.
I only have 6 more classes to go until I have my associates in horticulture. I'll also have a certificate in floral design which does not interest me at all, but will be a part of my horticulture degree. Sounds great? I don't know that I'll be able to find a job without moving to another state that grows plants other than corn, or soybeans. :/
I often wonder what I'm going to do next?

 

[King_Oni]

"Non-autistic people seem to have a whole upper layer of verbal thinking that is merged with their emotions. By contrast, unless I panic, I use logic to make all decisions; my thinking can be done independently of emotion. In fact, I seem to lack a higher consciousness composed of abstract verbal thoughts that are merged with emotion."

My Mind is a Web Browser: How People with Autism Think

As far as I know... and am aware of with my job experiences and observations, people who rationalize whatever they do on the job are scary to others. You're way to "perfect" in whatever you do. You're a threat cause you're better. And on top of that, they can rarely fire you over mistakes, because you have a decent succesrate. Most likely they'll fire you over "you're not social enough", and as such they have to find some silly reason.

It opens a totally different world of interpersonal relationships on the workfloor, and that's what a lot of people aren't really up for, not co-workers and not supervisors.

 

[Geordie]

I think trading, however, is suitable for only a small percentage of autistics. You must not be risk-averse.

We should really agree a trade-off for a more certain, but lower expected payoff. I agree with this statement.

To some companies, so long as we fit into their norms and do what they need, we're good employees. Aims will change with management, so we try to change with the firms' strategies. However, most of us really have this stickiness to change.

I chose the marriage over the PhD and have a wonderful, sweetheart, aspie boy who is a genius in music but totally unable to deal with the NT world. I fear for his future.

I also fear for my future, as an Aspie. I know I can't deal with the NT corporate world, it really stretches me.

If people ever know KPIs and SOPs, I can't really follow them without asking a ton of questions that will drive people crazy. And even if people don't get crazy, there are all those appraisals and hidden office politics. If I get say US$1,000,000 but others get $8,000,000 or more, I know I get a negative internal review, and my job may be on the line.

Plus, other people may not know this, but I feel really uncomfortable in those stuffy jackets and ties. I'm more than willing for lower pay (though this has to be sufficient to pay for my daily expenses, say, US$1,500 a month or so), so long as I work in work overalls or in a Cubs/Tigers hat, shorts and T-shirt.

It opens a totally different world of interpersonal relationships on the workfloor, and that's what a lot of people aren't really up for, not co-workers and not supervisors.

I should have practised drumming or guitar strumming so that I could be join King_Oni's (maybe) industrial rock band, instead of coping with somebody's expectations to just be like my neighbours - all either doctors or lawyers. Their lifestyles are glitzy and all that, but money can't buy happiness that I want. I prefer simpler things to Ferraris or Mercedes-Benz.

And no, I don't have my own money, I admit I have zero work experience other than being a part-time admin assistant of a special school. Sigh.

 

[Soup]

The advent of the home office & the home-based business is a gift that will bestow gainful employment, workplace autonomy & meaningful social contribution for Aspies. We don't always need to rely on others for a job or to generate revenue for ourselves. Between online payment options & home technologies, more & more of us will be ditching uncomfortable monkey suits, confusing office politics & stressful commutes for the comfort & privacy of being able to work at 4am in flannel pjs if that's when we feel up to doing certain tasks.

 

[King_Oni]

The advent of the home office & the home-based business is a gift that will bestow gainful employment, workplace autonomy & meaningful social contribution for Aspies. We don't always need to rely on others for a job or to generate revenue for ourselves. Between online payment options & home technologies, more & more of us will be ditching uncomfortable monkey suits, confusing office politics & stressful commutes for the comfort & privacy of being able to work at 4am in flannel pjs if that's when we feel up to doing certain tasks.

Working from home doing some kind of office job kinda thing is, except for a few jobs that are so unstable in regards to income, one of the few things I might pull of... that is, if given the chance. I know that sitting at some place I'm not comfy with, dealing with schedule and structure I can't adhere to, amongst people I could do without, and probably the entire workers culture, would cancel out a fair share of "problems" I have and will encounter(ed) with employment.

The problem is, that you actually could be able to work AT an office, and be just as flexible to stay at home if they want you to. And in that sense there's no leeway in the application process of hiring a fair share of people who are willing to work under certain circumstances given their condition

 

[Soup]

My Sister in law works AT an office BUT often telecommutes & works from home. She does this full time, makes a good income & gets to avoid the chaos of traffic & office craziness. THe job market sucks right now in most places so we lose nothing in trying to work out a way to maximize income potential from home.

 

[King_Oni]

Yeah, that's kinda what I was getting at... telecommuting. But I read a few articles the other day that therapists apparently are claiming that it's bad for people in the sense that they lose social skills over it and feel lonely and all. It's actually somewhat of an ideal set up for an aspie I think.

I should also add that for me personally, not owning a car, and actually in general not participating in traffic except for public transport (since my instructor found me too much of a road hazard), no busses/trains at night in my area (nor the financial means to move right now), inabilty to function during daytime AND no diploma except for high school, which I attended, if you'd look at "what's normal" might be questionable circumstances (I came in about 2 hours a month just for my exams, I rarely attended classes), makes job prospects a bit harder. So granted a job at home which I could do whenever I wanted (and probably would do at night from 10 pm till 6 am or so) might be the best bet since transportation is kinda "off" and my day/night thing would need more fixing before I could even start a job. Then comes in if I'm even qualified for said job.

Just to get it out there... I'm not "complaining" about how I don't have a job... to be honest, at least I have time to get a grip on my life a bit more and stay calm, sort out my life, stuff like that.

But given the thread and "what job could you do" or even the "how do you value your skills"... it actually requires a bigger picture than just "can you do basic math and use proper language" to get a "starters job".

 

[Geordie]

Yep. If we have some employable skills, how are we going to use them in the office...
And how much should we charge for our services?

What are their worth?

 

[WildCat]

I don't do IT, I work in a grocery store. My fast motor skills and ability to move at a steady pace for long periods of time are my only assets. I'll admit that I either don't have the brainpower for a professional career or I'm not applying myself as much as I should be. I really don't have any other skills besides the ones that were self-taught (programming, for example, and that's a hobby for me). Not only that, but I only have a high school diploma as my only academic credential. Sucks for me I guess.