What kind of work do you do?

[Guppyfry]

I know not all of you are working, or can work, that is okay. But for those of you that do have a job, what is it that you do? Do you like it? How does it fit with being on the spectrum? Did you just happen to fall into the job you are doing, or was it something you planned on doing as a carreer?

I work for a large helicopter company, that operates some 40 plus helicopters.
I look after Technical Records, keep a data base of maintenance performed and maintenance coming up, create reports that tracks the maintenance status of the machines and upcoming requirements.

This job came about because I used to do aircraft maintenance in the military, so I have some background and knowledge about helicopter maintenance and operations. I loved the Military life, but the full days and lack of privacy and trying to deal with undiagnosed Asperger's and a feeling that 'there is something wrong with me" ended in mental collapse, and I got out. I did not think I would ever be able to work again, but after 10 years or so, did start looking for work again, and got the job I have now.

I like it because it is something unique and different and specialized. I have my own office and work pretty independently, and that fits my Aspie character quite well.

So how about you?

 

[Catlover614]

I'm a dishwasher/toilet scrubber/carpet cleaner/baker/chef/laundry worker/dog walker/duster/plumber.

 

[Guppyfry]

LOL!! Don't forget shopper/errand runner!

 

[Nitro]

Full blown autie here,not an aspie.Somewhere along the line,I got the savant label,but to me it is just another silly tag they stuck to me. I was raised in a machine shop setting. From there,I went on to work in that field and climbed the corporate ladders with relative ease once my employers realized how valuable an employee I was. In that field,my steps took me to lower level management positions where I assisted their mechanical engineering departments. (carried is a more appropriate statement) My eidetic abilities rock and rolled at that part of my career,and still do.

At the risk of making some upset with me,I will once again post that I have either manufactured or designed something that has touched every living soul on our planet across many industries and interests.
The machinist events led me to learn fabricating skills for the ultra-high vacuum field that are advanced enough to gain FAA certification sign-offs on my weldments and repairs on aircraft parts. I can weld with the best and have gained nuke certs with no formal training.

I made it to the top of the corporate foodchain eventually,having held the CEO title of a progressive machineshop as my final act before I was entered into the disabled list at age 50

I have a strong interest in motor vehicles and have always been involved in the high performance scene on any number of wheels.That led to working as an automotive technician my entire life in one for or another.
My interests in mechanical items led me to dabble in racing that was funded by a modern automotive electronics diagnostic shop that I both owned and operated as a technician.

The truth be told,I used all of my special interests to keep myself employed my entire life. I was never one to only hold one job at a time,often running what I refer to as my scams alongside "gainful" employment. Running the scam became my business model when I worked for myself.I used the same technique when running other interests that weren't all mine.
The "scam" has always been good to me

 

[Guppyfry]

Hats off to hard work and talent Nitro - I know in a work environment, where roles and behavioural expectations are clear, I do better than straight social situations.

I've been reading about welding techniques recently - having the skill to be welding to such a high quality standard is not to be taken lightly.

I used to have what I refered to as a quasi-photographic memory - I could picture pages of a book or manual that I read in my mind, and read the written words same as if the book was physically in front of me. Made me popular with my peers and supervisers at work: "Hey, P___! What does the procedures manal say about X? "

In my mind, I would open the book, go through the table of contents, flip the pages to the correct section, and read out loud, word for word what the manual said - after only one actual, real reading of the manual. Everyone wanted to work with me, LOL!

However I lost the ability after my collapse - the stress wiped it out, or maybe the different medications I was on at the time, all useless and none helped me function any better, may even have even caused irreparable damage.

 

[Mia]

I've had many jobs; cook, chef, graphic artist, small business owner, and many others that I've done since I was quite young. I retired last year, now I'm a person who essentially does what they want most of the time.

 

[Mr Allen]

I've been doing voluntary work for over 20 years, including admin and shop work for nearly every Charity in Sheffield. I've also worked in Hospital Radio, and for the local Police Force (but not as a Cop, they tend bot employ disabled people in that role, equal opportunities my arse!).

 

[Suzanne]

I make sure that my husband comes home to a house that he can relax in; that he has food that satisfies him; that he has all his clothes where he needs them! Yep, my work is a housewife!

We do agree however, that his type of work is very limited financially and so, he has changed to a different type of method for his work and hopes it will be better financially and decided to add cleaning gites together ( that was my "paid" work in my own country, the uk), but we now live in France.

I could train to be a psychologist, but not going down that route, for the most part, because I disagree with how they train. I feel that personal experience is the best pyschologist going, with the ability to not over take a conversation.

I could train to be a dr, because I have a fascination with how the body works, but that is out of the question.

So, I do both above as happy past times and if ever anyone offered to pay, I might say yes lol

 

[clg114]

I have spent my entire working career (except for the military) as a field service technician working on electric vehicles, batteries and battery chargers. As a field tech, worked alone all most all of the time and I worked with my special interest. So my job was great for a Aspie. Eight years ago I started my own business doing the same thing. I really enjoy what I do, which is why I am still doing it at 70.