Hi Dan. Maybe you could help me? I have Autism & ADHD like you, accept I am also widowed with 4 neurodiverse sons to take care of. My executive functioning is too bad to juggle home/kids and work. Also my sensory overload is really bad with 4 boys so I’m in shutdown every day, and when I have a good moment my obsessive interests steal any time I had left. I’ve always wanted to have my own UA-cam channel, but I am not technical and don’t know how to edit, etc, etc.. How did you do it?
I have a question (please know I mean well), but [if] a large portion of autistic people are jobless...how are you going to put a price on how to help us move up? That just to me, seems really shallow, but at the same time I know you have to make money so....idk I feel you, but I also feel people like me and others worse than me.
Tip from Autistic person: Never tell the employer that you have Autism until after you get hired. If they try to fire you because of your disability, you can file for discrimination.
@@emilyrosehoar Sometimes you have no choice but to tell them, when you get called to the office for not being as fast as so-and-so, and get burned out. In my experience, they always seem to compare me to the fastest person on the employee list; every single job I get.
How do you take that proof to the courts, if they don’t hire you if you tell them you have autism before you get the job. Better to get hired and then tell them during like 6 weeks into establishing yourself in the work place.
Depends on the probation period of a job. Last place I worked was three months. They can fire you for whatever reason within those three months. After three months you’re officially hired and can’t discriminate you
I’m autistic and I had a really hard time finding a job. My mom asked at where she works if I can have an interview for housekeeping. And I love it, I made a few friends there who understand me
One of the biggest obstacles for me securing a job is passing the job interview. One time I filled out a 100 applications over the course of 1 year and did not get a single job from any of them. Also, I tend to get fired alot for things related to challenges that I have as a person on the spectrum. For instance, mistakes made due to short-term memory issues which is often misinterpreted as carelessness, or misunderstanding a series of directions.
When I was a cyclist for a Chinese there were times when I took 2 orders but only remembered to deliver one. Thankfully the Chinese understood 😅. But I did eventually loose that job because we lost orders in the local area and gained more further away, and it was becoming really difficult to deliver fast on bike. I have signed up to just eat since but I’ve never actually like done a shift because I lost the routine in the sign up process and got used to doing other stuff in that time. I hope to get back to it at some point but I’m not there yet.
I have the same issues, I hope this video helps I haven't watched it yet but deal with the same issues. I make money through panhandling and everyone says get a job but its hard to keep one for me. I pay my rent with panhandling and something elese I'm not proud of but that's how I pay rent and take care of myself
I got my first job this week! I'm 26 years old, it took a long time but finally, I have a full time job. I'm a 3D generalist at an animation studio :D I may not have the best social skills as everyone else, but you can bet that those 3D models, texture files, animations will be amazingly well done, organized, categorized... hahaha
I’m a digital artist with Aspergers and chronic fatigue syndrome- most day jobs are horrific for me and give me panic attacks. The brain fog I suffer and forced interaction with people are just a hot mess. I’m trying to create my own business that fosters me being able to create art from my computer and not have to face to face deal with anyone. Difficult
I also worked in the art world but it was just too demanding for me. There is so much business, communication and executive functioning involved that it became too overwhelming
@@ArtsyMegz_On_Etsy digital art is all around us for example in ads, commercials, album covers, billboards, phone apps, etc. You can definitely do it!!
I’ve had 15 jobs within 17 years, and am currently unemployed. It’s tough out there for those of us with ADHD/autism. The 9-5 office jobs kills me, but it seems to be the only jobs that pay a livable wage.
I understand. Look for virtual jobs in a field you enjoy. Also, look for job databases that accept people with disabilities. There are some that cater to autistic people. Check out Autism@work round table. They are a group of employers that hire people on the Spectrum. Also The Spectrum Careers has jobs for people on the spectrum. It’s best to work for employers who understand Autism and want to help.
Videos like this are so valuable in raising awareness about what an autism friendly work environment is. Autistic people have such valuable contributions to make and I am excited for future that is more inclusive and able to empower their gifts to shine as they rightfully should. Thanks Dan for another great video!
I’m a teacher. I’m very good at being in the classroom, maintaining routines, teaching and getting ready to teach. I find the extra stuff really hard. Staff meetings, admin that seems pointless and dealing with managers who often don’t really like children. It’s a tricky balance sometimes.
I've never told an employer about my condition I've always felt I'd be treated differently and I'm not comfortable with it. But on the other hand I've been called strange and creepy so I'm not sure what's better lol.
Yeah i can tell them or not but they still can see I'm not the right candidate lol I have a job but (as with all my past jobs except Subway) I only got it because someone who knew me already insisted that they hire me
Ah! Same! Maybe not creepy but strange/weird/akward. They don’t say theses words but they tell me i don’t act correctly, i’m acting how they want, i’m saying too much..saying the truth too much? Like with clients, i should lie about certain stuff or talk a certain way and i try and try but can’t achieve the perfect way they want. Have also been told that i didn’t look excited about some stuff, didn’t show emotion enough (it was basic things, didn’t see why i should look excited), but then when i « put on a role and act » and try to act like they want i just can see they look at me weird and talk to me weird.
I started an e-commerce business with partnered distributors in 2013 and clear $20,000 a month at this point. It's both amusing and ironic to me that I failed at even menial jobs in typical group environments, yet the first thing I pursued completely on my own with no outside interference has been a complete success. It gives me peace of mind knowing that I'm miles financially more well off than every last teacher, boss or coworker that ever berated me for struggling despite my best efforts, making me feel invalidated and worthless.
@@SpaceAdmiral792t in general the service industry is notoriously tough for neurodivergent folks because we have to remember a lot of different factors and deal with people
good topic dan. i'm a copywriter and have had my own business 8.5 years. it's super creative but can be technical/repetitive at times which i actually enjoy. i think aspies do best with jobs they can get mildly obsessed with and not have to interact much with people. i have to maintain a lot of client relationships and it's pretty high pressurised at times but because i call the shots, i quite like that. it was tough getting established at first but once people saw the quality of my work and believed in me, these days, people come to me before i approach them.
as for copywriting - are there challenges with regard to (intellectual) bullshit being expected, and cognitive dissonance evoqued, relatedly ?! as most advertisement seems notoriously geared towards NT emotionalising...
I'm an aspie working in IT as a software tester. The logic and detail orientation are a really good match, but the social interaction can be a challenge sometimes especially with people who don't have the same perspective on detail and logic, which is quite a lot. Lol. So there arr definitely challenges working in IT, but I think it's a good fit in general.
@@hudson6419 when folks don't provide details and clarity I can get very frustrated as my autism means I really meed to know that. To be honest I'm at a stage now where I've recently disclosed my diagnosis to my employer as I'm at the point where the stress caused by lack of details and clarity is having negative effects. You'd think that a business would benefit from knowing details and clarity about future work, but the opposite seems to be how our business tends to operate. I'm hoping now I've disclosed they can make 'reasonable adjustments' and work slightly differently...I guess we'll see, but we're not off to a great start as it has been some weeks since my disclosure and we've not met yet to discuss things... If i can help with anything else please reply. Cheers
@@mccannger I don't know if that is a good IT company where you're working. Because normally the Product Owners, Business Analysts will have to be in charge with providing the detailed requirements for Tester's works. So you should be able to work out the details by discussing with BA team, and they have to provide a clear feature requirements file that has full details in there for you.
I’m autistic and I feel like no job will work for me because I hate people and I don’t want to be around them they scare me and I have social anxiety like really bad I also have extreme depression
For people in UK, ASD and ADHD comes up under Disability Act meaning that you are protected in law and employer MUST make adjustments. Problem is that employers don't understand neuro diversity. Best way to get adjustments is to go via Access to work - they will make appointment, assess what needs one have and come up with best adjustments for the individual's work/position. I am myself high functioning and been in employment most of my life. I worked as science research associate and it was great because I was surrounded by people alike me. But I had a dream to become a detective and this is becoming a reality. I joined police and, yes it was struggle. Some people desperately wanted me there appreciating my aspie skills, others did everything to get rid of me as they looked only at the negative aspects. Negative aspects can be managed by adjustments, especially autism coaching - this was life changer. And yes, some of days are struggle - but it's worth! My advice - follow your dreams! Use your aspie superpowers, learn to advocate for yourself! You can do anything!
I'm basically stuck doing manual labor or working in restaurants. "learn to code" sounds great on paper, but it's not that realistic for the majority of people. College isn't free, and I barely have a roof over my head as is. Appreciate the videos in any case.
I graduated college with honors about six years ago, and have been unemployed ever since. Only had three interviews in my life, and I always get told I did well and then get rejected the next day
Keep trying and don’t give up. I know that the interviews are tough, but have faith that you can do it. The right job will choose you. I’m hoping for the best.
Praying for you. I have struggled with this since college too. It’s hard but now I’m doin Uber. Maybe try something not related to your studies like tutoring or using some other everyday skill.
that actually is something I know too badly (not 'well') either. one is nicely in flow, atmo seems alright, no qstn.s left unanswered or handled other than intellectually adequately - and then NTs bail out anyway, for not 'feeling like'... on one talk I was asked for an mbti-test... I'd guess intj-a | t won't hit them very cosily (though phoning 1st was fine).
I interviewed for my current job a year ago today. I had left my previous job due to incredible bullying and discrimination and tbh was a pretty broken person. Not in the best frame of mind to go to interviews, but working via agencies always helps with that buffer (advice, CV tips, interview practice etc) I mentioned my upcoming diagnosis at interview, which was a risk, but I bigged-up my honesty and focus and that seemed to have worked. Turns out that the boss is clearly on the spectrum and there was instant understanding and respect across the office. I also met my current partner in that same timescale. Very..... idiosyncratic man..... but I had him worked out. Understanding people's energy is really important, and learning and accepting things about yourself can open so many doors. Peace 😊😊😊
The timing of this video is great - I am on sabbatical so to speak. I left my job at Amazon as a designer because it was so stressful with presentations and need to socialize. With the pandemic, it has put me in a weird place where the business I wanted to start won't work right now. I'm definitely on the search for a job that won't give me panic attacks!
I do case management for our local board of developmental differences. I feel totally comfortable, and am not the only employee with spectrum tendencies. We feel that we have additional insight, and are therefore able to assess previously unseen needs and solutions. We each excel in different areas. My previous job was as an integration specialist in an Autism day unit for adults. It was so hard for me to leave my guys! I am currently pursuing an M.A. degree in Autism studies. My job in retail has been a blessing and a curse, especially as I get older and face more sensory issues. Other than that, working in a medical laboratory was the best opportunity for me. Thank you for all that you do!
I am not diagnosed ASD (however I suspect I am) but everything you said about your other jobs is completely relatable to me. I have 2 children on the spectrum. I work at home as an assistant for 1 person so I don’t have to deal with a bunch of people. I also run a small business where I get to be creative. I believe you are spot on. Working alone and looking at things differently.
1. Been there, done that. If you lack social skills, you can have the best tech skills ever, and they won't matter. 2. You know how toxic the gaming industry is towards their employees right? Deadlines, crunches... Just think of the stress. 3. Self employment, requires a social network to get work from. Now, what did we struggle most with? 4. I've been often called out for my depth of detail I go into. It's unwanted.
Same here for being told I give too much info, and people say my emails are too long. Honestly, I try to give all info so I don’t get responses with questions.
3. Of course you have to do marketing and acquisition. But no, you don't need a social network for that. Respectively you can build a network online, too, you don't need to speak personally or on the phone with people for that. Back to the social network: when you are specialised in some topics or fields, the most people in your network don't need what you offer. So you have to do acquisition from the start. 4. My customers love that.
I started my first job three weeks ago working at my college bookstore. I live in America btw. Tbh, helping customers is probably one of the better parts of my job, besides processing online orders for textbooks in the back. All I do is find the order out of a mostly organized array of numbered boxes, or pick up books for specific classes for them if they request it. The only thing that me having autism has clashed with my job is when I'm on a tight schedule and I'm doing a monotonous task. I like having a routine, but I cannot do repetitive tasks all day. I need some variety or have something else to do, like listen to music or talk to coworkers so I don't get bored. I think they understand what I'm like because they've only put me on the register once.
I’ve always struggled with finding a job. I’ll go into something thinking it’s the perfect job for me when it’s actually awful. I once worked as a sales associate at a nutrition and wellness store, which sounds awesome, but I absolutely hated because I felt like I was selling people lies. I now work as a cashier at a gas station where I have to multitask like crazy and nothing is ever the same (I could be cooking in the deli, cleaning/arranging shelves, folding the laundry, restocking the breakfast bar and hotcase, all while running the register), and everything is super noisy and busy and I get overwhelmed. I’m now thinking of trying working at the movie theater (movies/filmmaking is one of my interests) or at a flower shop (because who doesn’t like flowers)? The only reason I didn’t leave the nutrition store job and I haven’t left this current job yet is because I’m scared to try to find anything different. Because what if what seems like the perfect job turns out to be awful? What if I’m bouncing between jobs until everyone in my small town sees me as problematic? Etc. There are so many careers I would love to pursue, but none of them are super stable and there’s no way of knowing if I’d find success (filmmaking, acting, designing clothes, interior designing, Disney imagineer, musician/dancer/performer). Right now I’m trying to get into a school where I can get an interior design certificate so I can become self employed and design spaces that are sensitive to sensory needs.
Thank you for making these videos, truly. Between Aspergers, ADD, and Me/CFS (chronic fatigue), I miss so many things in most jobs... I appear lazy, I appear not to be listening, I forget things and have awful brain fog. Having to work with people AND remember tasks/training feels like it’ll be the death of me
Ugh I’m trying everything lol I do Gods work and I write. Unfortunately it doesn’t pay very well hahahaha but I’m trying lol I’m in college so hey that’s cool lololol
I just figured out I’m autistic last year (I’m 45), and it explains a lot about my career(s)! I work as a senior IT consultant where I help organizations figure out better ways to manage and present their information internally and externally. This is not what I went to school for 😅 but I’m damn good at it. There’s enough routine in what I do to satisfy my aspie side while having plenty of novelty through working with multiple clients to fulfill my ADHD side. I’ve never told an employer that I have ADHD for fear of discrimination, though my current boss (who owns the company) and I have worked together for almost 8 years, and I may be ready to talk to her about my new self-awareness regarding ASD to help ensure I keep an ideal working environment while providing her the most value from my work.
I went into Archaeology as that was my passion and special interest. I qualified last year, but now i'm running into the problem of finding employment. Arch is a small field where corroboration and networking is essential. I was only recently diagnosed with Aspergers. So now i'm stuck, i spent 15 years studying, im 36, unemployed and its causing me so much anxiety finding work. most positions i am qualified for that is available is stuff like reception, call centres etc. I'm so overwhelmed i actually tried to commit suicide a month ago, because i don't know if i can have a future, and working in a place that gives me fight or flight levels of anxiety even after just an hour is no way to live. Iv been trying to make some awareness among my fellow archaeologists, but they don't care or probably think i'm just making stuff up. I don't know what to do from here, im so lost and so stressed.
I’m an academic librarian in higher ed. I have to teach and lesson plan and it’s always a struggle. Communication and planning and playing that tenure and promotion game are really difficult.
I presume teaching and similar jobs are probably some of the most difficult for an autistic person to do. That being said, it's certainly not impossible. After all, Temple Grandin is a very well known and successful professor who is on the spectrum.
I love your vids. However, in the practice of practicality none of these job options are very wide scoped or quickly available. Could you make a broader list?
I’m currently on a waitlist for an ASD diagnosis (I’m in the US). I’m a UX Designer and Researcher but have had a few temporary jobs. I got laid off (again) in February and am starting to think if I have some kind of problem (hence my getting a diagnosis after talking to a friend of mine with ASD about it). I actually really love my work and love to be able to think like a user and make products for them. I can definitely relate to the career choices in this list!
You can also solve problems and test stuff outside the technological realm. As an example, in my city we have all kinds of inspectors for different areas (safety of buildings, cars, quality for hotels and restaurants, etc). They just show up and mark the yes/no squares after the places have been emptied. I envy them so much.
I was a bar tender in the family business, it was really hard dealing with everybody and on top of it it was long hours, plus I had to keep up with my studies which I ended up dropping, but I did eventually start studying again :)
This video was interesting. I’m a guidence councellor that works in a school. Its the best job I ever had, so fullfilling. Funny enough I have Aspergers and ADD. I was diagnosed recently. I am very good at masking and like to talk to people, when I set the terms. I am an amazing guidence councellor just because even though I have some parts of me that is hard, I see people for who they are, I dont judge and im more empatic than most ppl. I also know very much facts just because I have a amazing mind when I find something interesting. I have always loved school, its usually not so for us but I was the smart one and got respect for it for some reason. So I kind of turned my interest (school), knowing stuff (I am the know it all for work and studies) into my job. That is what you should do! I have had some really Aweful jobs, that I now can see was the cause of me being depressed. Like one to one sekler in a jewellery store, real estate agent (I studies 3 years to become one). It didnt ens great, lets just say so 😉 One of my special interests is antiques (im 35 so that is not usual) and drag queens. When I studied I sold and bought antiques as a living. That was also a great job. But I need more structure so a 9-5 job is the best thing for me.
Surely seen priscilla queen of the desert ? (the ozzie movie) on drags, hilarious and well acted. Worked in education as well, I couldnt stand adolescents, their attitude and the expectations from over concerned & a bit spoilt parents, mis and micromanagement. Beeing on the spectrum a bit (+ ADD) better to re school as a translator which Im doing now. Maybe teaching adults once, but in the regular teachers academy's teaching adolescents is compulsory, and I cant motivate others if they arent already. 1 on 1 or small motivated groups are ok, but large unmotivated arent (to me).They drain my energy
I am autistic and I am applying for a job from Autism Society Philippines speech. This pandemic ruined it and I had to wait for it. Once the pandemic is over, I will apply for a job. Pity me for my dad's death and loss.
I’ve been working at a job for 17 years. I found a way to do my job extremely well, to the point where most people say I’m the best they’ve ever seen at it. Now management has decide to start changing things around and continue to change things multiple times every month and threaten me when I try to perform my job in a way that makes sense to me. I now have constant meltdowns and have become extremely depressed because of it. I don’t know what to do as I can’t quit because it’s difficult to find a job, especially one that will start me out at the pay I’ve accumulated after 17 years of raises.
I've been watching your videos since yesterday and it is really helping me to understand myself much better. I understand why I acted the way I did as a child and it has helped me cope with why I was treated differently. Thank you for these videos, it is really helping me feel better and I really needed it, I've been feeling down lately and this has shined a light on my world. Now I just have to connect with myself again because for years I've had difficulty trying to act like others and fit in that I lost myself. Thank you again! 😄
People always say that IT is the way to go. In my experience, it's great to do computer work no doubt. But dealing with unbelievable stupidity, and a constantly ringing phone ruins it quickly.
no one is going to pay me what my time and energy is worth, and I'm not going to settle for less, so I guess I can only continue waiting for whenever I get to die and escape this toxic nightmare of human stupidity.
I'm just going to point out that a lot of people with autism really excel in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics (including data science and statistics), as well as in the technology sector. If you haven't gone to college and graduated, you definitely should.
College costs money that a lot of us don't have. I work my ass off to keep a roof over my head-trying to scrape or borrow enough money and time to get through college is daunting.
It's tough even if you get in because academic advancement is to a large extent a social game many of us don't excel at. After being diagnosed I at least feel at peace with my disabilities in that area and can accept them for what they are.
Laboratory jobs in pharma could also be great. For example, in Quality Control you are performing chemical tests according to a set procedure in a routine fashion but there is also troubleshooting involved when things go wrong.
currently on working toward the goal of self employment as an artist with my first one-shot comics. feels like it took too long to get here, as i think part of that had to do with trying to function like a neuro-typical person in too many jobs that weren't good for me. better late than never though! thanks for all the awesome vids :)
I want to follow up on my earlier comment and mention that some of us on the spectrum also love animals. We aren't just into technology. Some of us love animals and could probably have jobs geared toward that. Some of us are writers, and we can easily spot grammatical and spelling errors. I don't know how to code or make video games. I wanted to do that when I was younger, but no one showed me how to get the training. There are probably more jobs than you mentioned for us. I do agree on the creativity though. That's definitely a plus.
There was no job for me that fits me. So I am a freelancer, I do copywriting and webdesign. Of course I only work in my homeoffice, I don't have to call anyone and I work when I feel like it. It's perfect for me.
Ive been a truckdriver "lorry driver" for nearly 10 years. Its okay being alone most of the time. Thinking might enjoy voice acting more than what Im doing more just doing jobs from home.
Hi Dan, As a ASD sufferer, I'm lucky enough to have a job during Covid19. I know many don't have one, I work as a Housekeeper in a hospital. I don’t really love it but it pays pretty well. It's very difficult and I'm constantly on my feet. Thanks for such a fascinating video, very informative 👍🤩😁
I want to own my own business as an interior Designer specialising in kids rooms because I want to turn their imaginations in to a reality for them but I am struggling at the point of owning my own business because there seems to be so much you have to do to be within the guidelines of the law I don't know whether the US is easier but I feel like the whole business side I am just not good at I am currently studying an honours degree then I would like to do my masters but my business savy is not up to scratch and I find it very difficult to concentrate on certain things.
Hi Dan, ive been a self employed costume & puppet designer/maker and illustrator for 18 years (17 under Greener Lavelle name). Im moving into more creative direction. It's tough going at the moment as the events industry shut down. Trying to focus on my illustrations but it doesn't pay the bills yet. Can't imagine having a different job so I need to make it work :-D
Totally relate! I qualified as a ski instructor really early at 14 years old, started my first instructing job at 15 (but then the ski slope burned down 😩) and then got my second instructing job at 16 but my mental health spiralled. I’ve tried other customer service job but had meltdowns everyday and ended up in hospital so haven’t worked since. I’d love to be a ski instructor again because I know I’m good at it and it’s creative and active. I can’t drive though and there’s not a slope near me which is really sad!
My mother found out my brother was autistic as a child but never even questioned me and she has ADHD. I’m recently finding more and more that I closely related to the women’s autism though I’m transgender, it makes a lot more sense and I’m working to be tested further then this one I found online that I scored high for. I’m sharing this video to my freind who also thinks he’s autistic so we can be in this discovery together.
When I was applying for nuclear engineering graduate schemes I had to do these multiple choice tests that were about how you would respond in given situations. A lot of the time, I didn't think any of them would be how I would respond and one of them even said "Not happy. You do not feel comfortable when your plans change at short notice" in response to being told less than an hour before a presentation that your boss is busy and you're going to have to give it. I had to select that option but was very aware that it was going to count against me in a big way.
Most jobs that have multiple choice screening tests are very aspie unfriendly. It's like they're tailor-made to exclude those with autism. I actually had a non-aspie friend fill that portion out for me, to get me a very basic job at a pharmacy (the front of the store). That job ended after about a year anyway. The job I have currently was almost a fluke to get... the manager of the department had OCD and liked my "humor" (which was just honesty) ... where during the application process, it pretty much asked you all the questions you'd answer on a resume... and then at the end, asked you to "Attach your Resume"... I wrote in: "Attaching a resume would be redundant, as I just answered all of those questions." It was very nice working with someone with OCD, since I knew exactly what they wanted, how they wanted it done, when they wanted it done, etc. Recently, that manager left, and instead of promoting me to manager (the only other person working in the department), they hired someone from outside, and it was horrible with the level of uncertainty and lack of communication and not knowing what was expected of me, or if I was meeting expectations, and their overall tone of interaction with me seemed to be annoyed all the time... but I still get maximum raises allowable... so there's that... HOWEVER, due to Covid-19, my position was deemed not needed, so they transferred me to groundskeeping, pulling weeds every morning, at reduced hours... I'm looking for new employment.
You sound like every job coach I ever talked to, with all the computer related jobs, but I can't work with computers, I get very frustrated, and I just completely lack interest. I'm very good at playing the drums, but it is tricky to find employment with that, so I generally just try to not worry about it too much and not let it get me down.
I’m on the spectrum and currently unemployed. My first job was at hardware store where I stocked shelves overnight, I only worked there for two days then quit because I got overwhelmed. This year though, I thought things were going to change, two weeks before quarantine, I was at a job agency where they were helping me get started on my path to a career. I’m 24 and sometimes it gets difficult to search for a job and not hearing anything back(even if it’s for a follow up). But right now, I’m looking into becoming a Videographer and I eventually want to start my own channel.
I have a degree in computer networking, it’s a two year degree but it’s a degree. I already had the opportunity to work for a year as a student worker in IT. I always did better when they had me do things behind the scenes. Like connect new computers, keyboards, replacing printer ink, and going to a staff workstation and help them out. When they put me on the phones, I would get really nervous. I am having trouble finding work now, but I won’t give up.
I started suspecting this year I might be on the spectrum (both sides of the family are aneurotypical), and around the same time I started trying to build a career as a gamer/writer. 100% would recommend. Pay's not great, but I'm happier overall and I feel more balanced.
This was really helpful for me. I lost my job back in March and I’ve been more recently looking for work. Feeling really overwhelmed. I have so much customer service/retail/cosmetic experience but I just can’t find a good fit for me. That pays a decent enough wage to live on. I’m not really techy but I so wish I was. Thanks for a great video. I found you more recently and you have great informative videos. So thank you 💕
Everyone is different with autism due to it being a spectrum. What maybe right for one autistic person may not be right for another. For example one maybe good at customer service and retail jobs, and the other not so much. They could be good at food service jobs or so. I am thankful and very lucky I found a job where the employer was not against hiring me due to my other disabilities like chronic back pain, etc. Not so much the autism itself. Standing for extended periods of time sucks for me, and this new job I got recently I can sit during my entire shift and only stand/walk to wipe down the game machines and do other light cleaning tasks before shift change
My new job only has one employee per shift! This is the best thing ever. I do sort of have to deal with the general public. They mostly know what they are going in there for as it's just a gaming slots machine room/area. It feels soo good not to need a manager there or other coworkers. Our job is only to clean the machines, make sure the machines are working, and if not we call it in. No cash handling or touching unless we're given a tip from the gamer/customer. Keep the place nice, clean, and tidy. I'd say 1st easiest job I've had. Cleaning work might be good for autistic people too such as a janitor, housekeeper, etc.
I'm on the same boat about this video and I am Autistic and I been trying to get a job which I like to do like at a video games stores or gadget shops but every-time I apply they see that i have autism I rejected just like that. Right now I'm on a risk of reduce my benefits from the JobCentre for not not apply to jobs. All I look on jobsites was manager jobs and I want a job that make me feel comfortable with my days aswell. Hope your understand about me and hope you can reply me back if you can.
im 15 getting closer to the age where ill need a job and finding one on the spectrum can be hard because most of them involve social interaction. i always wanted to become an estate agent because i have an interest in houses but i was shocked to find out how much social interaction was involved.
Loved what you shared. The background music, though was distracting to me which made it hard for me to focus on your words. I am sure I am just being overly sensitive. Great Info!
I discovered this channel via my sweet and supportive husband, who has been helping me with applications for employment. I have struggled all my life to get employed. Other people that I won't name have called me lazy, never understanding how hard it is for me to get a job and keep a job. I have struggled to find one that fits me. I am still looking to this day to find where I can fit in. I am quite intelligent but hopelessly awkward. Anxiety is my biggest issue. It's like a constant monkey on my back. I am a writer, have a vivid imagination, but can't seem to fit in anywhere. I am watching this video now in the hopes I do find something someday. Thank you for your channel.
I feel like i never fit in to what most people on the autism spectrum are like, i am NOT into IT or technology at all, i wish i was. I feel like i'm too dumb for that. I'm not a gamer either, like most people on the spectrum seem to be. I'm great at things that i can't work with, like singing, psychology and art. And no i can't study to become a psychologist because i never even went to high school, and i can't handle school environments or pressure/stress, and i'm already 30 years old. I also have ADD which makes me very fatigued, especially with all sorts of social interaction. But a great video non the less, i will think alot about those last suggestions you made, you made some great points there. Thank you Dan 🙏
@@gemimarigby2471 Thanks for the suggestions, i will definitely have to think about the art therapy thing. I sadly struggle too much with making art, have some sort of blockage and i can't deal with instagram, it stresses me out too much. I'm also good at acting and doing imitations and things like that, but i never got into theater.
You can get your GED if you want to and you don't have to go to highschool. You can also check out www.coursera.com and look at cheap or even free classes there. I'm not a trained psychologist but I am using Instagram to build an account where I give out my own tips for personal therapy. Lots of counselors and life coaches out there who build their platforms on social media aren't certified or formally educated I believe.
Hi there, recently found out I am aspie after years of masking and dealing with depression. I’m new to your channel but see you wrote a book - that’s something I also feel compelled to do, especially to share the female experience in a new way. But I feel very hesitant for a number of reasons. Would you ever be interested in doing a vid on why you decided to write a book, and what that process was like? Were people in your life accepting or judgmental towards you speaking out in general? Thanks in advance if you read this - be well!
I can relate! I've worked in retail and restaurants and it was awful! I've only recently discovered I'm on the spectrum. I haven't gotten an official diagnosis, yet. I'm in the process of doing so. I currently work PT as a receptionist on 2nd shift. I work every other week. Honestly, it's the easiest job ever, but the environment is not great. I've been here almost 6 months and I'm honestly not sure how much longer I can stay. :(
I love interacting with people. (Ironic this came up as I spent at least an hour talking with a neighbor yesterday, getting to know them and feeling they may be on the spectrum like myself... or at least I know they have been heavily impacted by trauma...just met them, and they told me a lot of personal details but I do feel that they walked away with a deeper understanding of themselves and gave them some recommendations on UA-cam to expand) actually miss the random conversations with strangers I would have at work. It's the mean ones I dont like and would cause me the most issues. I learned the job like the back of my hand, I could talk my way out of just about any scenario... but the emotionally charged, manipulative people really sucked the energy right out of me. I may of only spoken to them over a phone but I got to the point where I could easily peghole the personality type I worked with based on some really subtle signs... Also management were a huge issue. They weren't very communicative with me, they moved away from software that helped the team feel more cohesive (it was telecommunications) which is integral with keeping employees happy. I've gotten to the point where I'm already anticipating I am managements worst nightmare and therefore really have no desire playing the typical employment game with all its office politics. No thanks... Plus given my attention span can be atrocious at times (seriously think I'm adhd but due to lack of money and not wanting meds, it's a self dx) anything I do would have to be something I'm very passionate about. That's the only way I would be able to keep up on even the rough days. Oh yeah and I will randomly talk to strangers on the trails as well. It's been some very interesting interactions but to say an autistic cannot excel at being communicative is a lie. I'm actually probably too much at times... something I'm *trying* to work on but it's sometimes *so* hard to not say something, especially if I think it may alter their life for the better. The best conversations are the ones where they've said they felt like like our brief interaction was something that was meant to be. I do hope those people's lives did change for the better.
I am currently working as a research assistant in the university. I am also on the spectrum. I don't think people with asd cannot have a good job. We can find something we good at and make a contribution to the society. It needs efforts and once accept that and really try to do, don't make excuse. There has place in the society for you.
I have trouble with sticking to a Job, I get targeted when I start a job because people perceive me to be different and once it starts to affect my health I start to go off sick but then I just end up leaving the job because I refuse to work for an employer who bullies their employees into quitting.
I havent been very successful with having a real job. Ive had a few part time jobs where i work alone. But even those were stressful and i try so hard to not let anyone down and i struggle to say No and so can end up working for much more time than i am up to in paid and unpayed areas. I then end up melting down and unable to even care for myself and end up hiding in my bedroom in the dark under my blankets. I live alone and have pets. So letting myself get to that situation is something i should stop letting happen. But it is an issue of wanting to be helpful and not able to communicate my needs or how i am feeling. Im kind of enjoying everything being stopped and shut and having to stay home away from others during this virus situation. But i know I am also losing the little bit of functioning among other people skills i had.
The difficult thing is finding these jobs. One positive thing about the pandemic is that companies are learning the value of remote work. I'm going to finish my accounting masters and hope I can get a remote job working at home... with numbers.
Ive got no problem getting jobs in my field, IT customer support. The problem keeping my job once the job becomes too demanding. When theres high turnover, changes in leadership and new people join the team I need to work closely with cause me to spiral out of control with sensory overload to the point of shutting down and not being able to complete my tasks because im preoccupied with trying to mask and do my job at the same time tome. I have to take naps through the day and start ignoring my job duties to cope and stop the suicidal ideation. I then start to feel ashamed of not living up to my potential and contributing to society and letting down my coworkers, parents and society and feel guilty that my coworkers have to pick up my slack. This is usually when I have an impulsive need to leave the job because I feel like they have figured me out and that I cannot recover from the bad impression I leave with my coworkers due to my mask slipping. I feel the need to have to start over at a new company with new people who dont know me at all so I can get a fresh start and all is well until the cycle start again, I crash and burn then have to leave to avoid harsh criticism as well as being gossiped about as being the weirdo who has meltdowns whenever the going gets tough. I am looking at changing fields to something non customer facing to hopefully be able to stick to the job for a long period of time and finally become independent and move out of my parents home.
My sister and me both have autism. Types of jobs that worked well for us are doing repetitive tasks that other people find boring. Tasks that could be done by a computer, but because of financial restraints of the declining economy, companies must have tasks carried out by humans. Working in a vault where cutting open bags and sorting money for counting. Or, my sister working sorting mail. These tasks can be easily do by us as we let our minds wander about other things.
I struggle with most work environments being way too fast-paced. They want everything done NOW, but I get so overwhelmed. I need to work in a field that is not so fast-paced and demanding. I am very skilled at fine detail... but not how the details are connected. I am very good at quality assurance work and editing, but the work is not fulfilling. How do you battle the desire for fulfilling work but also a desire for work that doesn't launch you into shutdowns?
I'm actually working my dream job as a comic artist and illustrator as an autistic person! I'm self employed so I can work whenever I want, be super flexible, but enjoy what I do enough to do it to a high standard (I hope). My only problem is the pay isn't amazing, and I've been thinking that if I want to save to move out I may need a part-time job on the side. Finding a job where I'll be comfortable and able to work well will be hard, and given the current Covid-19 recession it may be better to stay put and let other people who need them more take the positions...I dunno 🤔
I work in the field of science as Reg Nurse. And we have more than a couple with autism. Some have more problems than others. But it works very well when the job are clear and get to focus in a good working environment. Anything from testing, sorting and fixing thing. Being part of the big machine that is a science group that gather information. Some read, write, produce articles. Even going around and educate about their field of expertice. I think in science it is good to have people asking those extra questions and thinking "diffrent" sometimes.
Great video, but what if you are not a typical atypical, like me, I’m not very creative, not very technical either. I’d say I have above average intelligence/intellect but have issues with retaining information so therefore I don’t really know much and find it challenging to learn new things. I also don’t really have special interests, I’m only really interested in things that help me escape ‘me’, like tv and games but if you ask me questions about them I wouldn’t generally know the answer. I’ve had numerous job that’s haven’t lasted long and recently tried streaming on twitch but the demand to be regular was too much and the social side of it really got to me. Now for the first time from leaving school and at the age of 33(diagnosed at 31) I’m now unemployed, have no idea what I want to or can do as a job now, not even sure I want to deal with the stresses or the challenges that work brings anymore.
I'm 25 years old, been applying off an on since I was 16, but never managed to get one. Thing is I'm perfectly capable of working. The only thing preventing from obtaining employment is the fact that I never get past the interview. At this point I'm probably unemployable due to how suspicious this lack of work history would look to a employer.
I can relate to this so badly and have struggled with jobs my whole life, when I was young I was diagnosed with ADHD which is linked with autism. I seriously need help on where to go because I'm at the point and it's closing I said I would end my life when I hit 30 because I am so fucking fed up, sick and tired of my life... 😪
Trying to start selling art, once I finally get my painting done. This seems to be my only hope, because I seem to burn out more than anyone at work, and I don't think anybody there buys it. And everywhere you go it is under-staffed, where everyone has to do the work of 2 people.
i find im ok with brief contacts with people..but when trapped in a group i can get edgy. im a bus driver..im ok in the bus.but feel really bad with all the other driver in the lunchroom. just gotta limit my lunchroon time. haa haa. great videos mate👍
I know photography pays pretty well and I can take pretty good photos but I have no idea how to market anything like that or what to take a picture of because I feel like I would get tired of doing stock photos for subscription companies
Being self-employed is THE best way to accommodate for your needs. However, getting enough income to make a living is a whole other story. Also, you need high levels of executive function, specifically you need a good portion of self-discipline and being able to prioritise. Speaking from experience here. Four years of trying to make it on my own due to the fact that I couldn't bare to work in my industry for someone else anymore. That was four years of hard work paid with poverty, overwhelm, insecurity and anxiety. Right now my professional self-esteem is very low. I can't figure out a job that works for me as an employee, and I can't work for myself either.
Autism Interests Into Career Online Course: bit.ly/TAW_OBS
Today's my birthday.
Happy birthday! 🎂🎉🎁🎈
Your lip ring is giving me anxiety. It just looks like big risk for getting broken teeth. Please take it out
Hi Dan. Maybe you could help me? I have Autism & ADHD like you, accept I am also widowed with 4 neurodiverse sons to take care of. My executive functioning is too bad to juggle home/kids and work. Also my sensory overload is really bad with 4 boys so I’m in shutdown every day, and when I have a good moment my obsessive interests steal any time I had left. I’ve always wanted to have my own UA-cam channel, but I am not technical and don’t know how to edit, etc, etc.. How did you do it?
I have a question (please know I mean well), but [if] a large portion of autistic people are jobless...how are you going to put a price on how to help us move up? That just to me, seems really shallow, but at the same time I know you have to make money so....idk I feel you, but I also feel people like me and others worse than me.
Tip from Autistic person: Never tell the employer that you have Autism until after you get hired. If they try to fire you because of your disability, you can file for discrimination.
How do you bring it up?
@@emilyrosehoar You just ask the manager if you could to him/her in private. Then you tell them about your disability.
@@emilyrosehoar Sometimes you have no choice but to tell them, when you get called to the office for not being as fast as so-and-so, and get burned out. In my experience, they always seem to compare me to the fastest person on the employee list; every single job I get.
How do you take that proof to the courts, if they don’t hire you if you tell them you have autism before you get the job. Better to get hired and then tell them during like 6 weeks into establishing yourself in the work place.
Depends on the probation period of a job. Last place I worked was three months. They can fire you for whatever reason within those three months. After three months you’re officially hired and can’t discriminate you
I’m autistic and I had a really hard time finding a job. My mom asked at where she works if I can have an interview for housekeeping. And I love it, I made a few friends there who understand me
no offense josh but housekeeping is for girls
@@eddiew2325 sorry but that's just sexist
Well done !
@@eddiew2325 firefighters are meant for men but women still do the job. stop being sexist.
@@eddiew2325 i did housekeeping and i'm a guy. and my coworker was a guy, too
One of the biggest obstacles for me securing a job is passing the job interview. One time I filled out a 100 applications over the course of 1 year and did not get a single job from any of them. Also, I tend to get fired alot for things related to challenges that I have as a person on the spectrum. For instance, mistakes made due to short-term memory issues which is often misinterpreted as carelessness, or misunderstanding a series of directions.
I feel this
Yup ☝
When I was a cyclist for a Chinese there were times when I took 2 orders but only remembered to deliver one. Thankfully the Chinese understood 😅. But I did eventually loose that job because we lost orders in the local area and gained more further away, and it was becoming really difficult to deliver fast on bike. I have signed up to just eat since but I’ve never actually like done a shift because I lost the routine in the sign up process and got used to doing other stuff in that time. I hope to get back to it at some point but I’m not there yet.
I have the same issues, I hope this video helps I haven't watched it yet but deal with the same issues. I make money through panhandling and everyone says get a job but its hard to keep one for me. I pay my rent with panhandling and something elese I'm not proud of but that's how I pay rent and take care of myself
Legit
I got my first job this week! I'm 26 years old, it took a long time but finally, I have a full time job. I'm a 3D generalist at an animation studio :D
I may not have the best social skills as everyone else, but you can bet that those 3D models, texture files, animations will be amazingly well done, organized, categorized... hahaha
Congrats!
may i ask how you made it so far without a job? no ill intent at all, just a genuine question because personally i'm struggling
Aaaaw I’m so happy for you 🙌🙏
Congratulations!!
Wowwww! I’m so happy for you!!
I’m a digital artist with Aspergers and chronic fatigue syndrome- most day jobs are horrific for me and give me panic attacks. The brain fog I suffer and forced interaction with people are just a hot mess. I’m trying to create my own business that fosters me being able to create art from my computer and not have to face to face deal with anyone. Difficult
My daughter has Aspergers and is finishing her degree with digital art. She would love to do her create her own art business too.
I also worked in the art world but it was just too demanding for me. There is so much business, communication and executive functioning involved that it became too overwhelming
This is what I wanna do!
Am interested in doing this. Do people like buying digital art? Or would they prefer it on a canvas?
@@ArtsyMegz_On_Etsy digital art is all around us for example in ads, commercials, album covers, billboards, phone apps, etc. You can definitely do it!!
I’ve had 15 jobs within 17 years, and am currently unemployed. It’s tough out there for those of us with ADHD/autism. The 9-5 office jobs kills me, but it seems to be the only jobs that pay a livable wage.
Exactly. I feel the same way. And I literally just lost my apartment.
@@ketstillyappin I'm so sorry! 😭
I understand. Look for virtual jobs in a field you enjoy. Also, look for job databases that accept people with disabilities. There are some that cater to autistic people. Check out Autism@work round table. They are a group of employers that hire people on the Spectrum. Also The Spectrum Careers has jobs for people on the spectrum. It’s best to work for employers who understand Autism and want to help.
For me its finding a job with some actual consistency that doesnt exclusively rely on me dealing with random people
@Cherif OUAHOUAH You're literally saying to a person in a weelchair, at least you can breath, be grateful...
Videos like this are so valuable in raising awareness about what an autism friendly work environment is. Autistic people have such valuable contributions to make and I am excited for future that is more inclusive and able to empower their gifts to shine as they rightfully should. Thanks Dan for another great video!
Thank you Sara 💚
I’m a teacher. I’m very good at being in the classroom, maintaining routines, teaching and getting ready to teach. I find the extra stuff really hard. Staff meetings, admin that seems pointless and dealing with managers who often don’t really like children. It’s a tricky balance sometimes.
I've never told an employer about my condition I've always felt I'd be treated differently and I'm not comfortable with it. But on the other hand I've been called strange and creepy so I'm not sure what's better lol.
Side note I'm 34 and have had 15 different jobs and still haven't found the right fit I'm hoping what I'm doing now is the winner.
Yeah i can tell them or not but they still can see I'm not the right candidate lol
I have a job but (as with all my past jobs except Subway) I only got it because someone who knew me already insisted that they hire me
Ah! Same! Maybe not creepy but strange/weird/akward. They don’t say theses words but they tell me i don’t act correctly, i’m acting how they want, i’m saying too much..saying the truth too much? Like with clients, i should lie about certain stuff or talk a certain way and i try and try but can’t achieve the perfect way they want. Have also been told that i didn’t look excited about some stuff, didn’t show emotion enough (it was basic things, didn’t see why i should look excited), but then when i « put on a role and act » and try to act like they want i just can see they look at me weird and talk to me weird.
I started an e-commerce business with partnered distributors in 2013 and clear $20,000 a month at this point.
It's both amusing and ironic to me that I failed at even menial jobs in typical group environments, yet the first thing I pursued completely on my own with no outside interference has been a complete success.
It gives me peace of mind knowing that I'm miles financially more well off than every last teacher, boss or coworker that ever berated me for struggling despite my best efforts, making me feel invalidated and worthless.
Yes dude yes!!! Love this!!
That’s so great!!
@@TheAspieWorld is working in a restaurant or pizza place a good job for an aspie and someone who has adhd?
@@SpaceAdmiral792t in general the service industry is notoriously tough for neurodivergent folks because we have to remember a lot of different factors and deal with people
@@froufroudeluxe oh like what kind of factors?
good topic dan. i'm a copywriter and have had my own business 8.5 years. it's super creative but can be technical/repetitive at times which i actually enjoy. i think aspies do best with jobs they can get mildly obsessed with and not have to interact much with people. i have to maintain a lot of client relationships and it's pretty high pressurised at times but because i call the shots, i quite like that. it was tough getting established at first but once people saw the quality of my work and believed in me, these days, people come to me before i approach them.
I’m just getting started in copywriting! What helped you get through the early days?
as for copywriting - are there challenges with regard to (intellectual) bullshit being expected, and cognitive dissonance evoqued, relatedly ?! as most advertisement seems notoriously geared towards NT emotionalising...
I'm an aspie working in IT as a software tester. The logic and detail orientation are a really good match, but the social interaction can be a challenge sometimes especially with people who don't have the same perspective on detail and logic, which is quite a lot. Lol. So there arr definitely challenges working in IT, but I think it's a good fit in general.
What’s that like?
@@hudson6419 when folks don't provide details and clarity I can get very frustrated as my autism means I really meed to know that. To be honest I'm at a stage now where I've recently disclosed my diagnosis to my employer as I'm at the point where the stress caused by lack of details and clarity is having negative effects.
You'd think that a business would benefit from knowing details and clarity about future work, but the opposite seems to be how our business tends to operate. I'm hoping now I've disclosed they can make 'reasonable adjustments' and work slightly differently...I guess we'll see, but we're not off to a great start as it has been some weeks since my disclosure and we've not met yet to discuss things...
If i can help with anything else please reply. Cheers
@@mccannger I don't know if that is a good IT company where you're working. Because normally the Product Owners, Business Analysts will have to be in charge with providing the detailed requirements for Tester's works. So you should be able to work out the details by discussing with BA team, and they have to provide a clear feature requirements file that has full details in there for you.
As someone with multiple reasons why keeping a job is hard.... Including Autism.... This list helped me greatly
this video is so helpful, i've been feeling really stressed about trying to get a job in the future
I’m autistic and I feel like no job will work for me because I hate people and I don’t want to be around them they scare me and I have social anxiety like really bad I also have extreme depression
For people in UK, ASD and ADHD comes up under Disability Act meaning that you are protected in law and employer MUST make adjustments. Problem is that employers don't understand neuro diversity. Best way to get adjustments is to go via Access to work - they will make appointment, assess what needs one have and come up with best adjustments for the individual's work/position. I am myself high functioning and been in employment most of my life. I worked as science research associate and it was great because I was surrounded by people alike me. But I had a dream to become a detective and this is becoming a reality. I joined police and, yes it was struggle. Some people desperately wanted me there appreciating my aspie skills, others did everything to get rid of me as they looked only at the negative aspects. Negative aspects can be managed by adjustments, especially autism coaching - this was life changer. And yes, some of days are struggle - but it's worth! My advice - follow your dreams! Use your aspie superpowers, learn to advocate for yourself! You can do anything!
You can do anything of you live in a developed country
In develop-ing countries, only a handful of jobs are paid livable wage /respect
I'm basically stuck doing manual labor or working in restaurants. "learn to code" sounds great on paper, but it's not that realistic for the majority of people. College isn't free, and I barely have a roof over my head as is. Appreciate the videos in any case.
Try Coursera. Classes you can get full scholarships for.
Google has certified courses you can take cheap
I graduated college with honors about six years ago, and have been unemployed ever since. Only had three interviews in my life, and I always get told I did well and then get rejected the next day
Keep trying and don’t give up. I know that the interviews are tough, but have faith that you can do it. The right job will choose you. I’m hoping for the best.
Praying for you. I have struggled with this since college too. It’s hard but now I’m doin Uber. Maybe try something not related to your studies like tutoring or using some other everyday skill.
that actually is something I know too badly (not 'well') either. one is nicely in flow, atmo seems alright, no qstn.s left unanswered or handled other than intellectually adequately - and then NTs bail out anyway, for not 'feeling like'... on one talk I was asked for an mbti-test... I'd guess intj-a | t won't hit them very cosily (though phoning 1st was fine).
@bernard3804 that latter works primarily for xx.s, exp. if into manifesting | toxic positivity, tbh.
I interviewed for my current job a year ago today. I had left my previous job due to incredible bullying and discrimination and tbh was a pretty broken person.
Not in the best frame of mind to go to interviews, but working via agencies always helps with that buffer (advice, CV tips, interview practice etc) I mentioned my upcoming diagnosis at interview, which was a risk, but I bigged-up my honesty and focus and that seemed to have worked. Turns out that the boss is clearly on the spectrum and there was instant understanding and respect across the office. I also met my current partner in that same timescale. Very..... idiosyncratic man..... but I had him worked out. Understanding people's energy is really important, and learning and accepting things about yourself can open so many doors. Peace 😊😊😊
Holding down a job is very difficult for me, and the long days with too much interaction can be very overwhelming. Thank you for the video!
The timing of this video is great - I am on sabbatical so to speak. I left my job at Amazon as a designer because it was so stressful with presentations and need to socialize. With the pandemic, it has put me in a weird place where the business I wanted to start won't work right now. I'm definitely on the search for a job that won't give me panic attacks!
I do case management for our local board of developmental differences. I feel totally comfortable, and am not the only employee with spectrum tendencies. We feel that we have additional insight, and are therefore able to assess previously unseen needs and solutions. We each excel in different areas. My previous job was as an integration specialist in an Autism day unit for adults. It was so hard for me to leave my guys! I am currently pursuing an M.A. degree in Autism studies. My job in retail has been a blessing and a curse, especially as I get older and face more sensory issues. Other than that, working in a medical laboratory was the best opportunity for me. Thank you for all that you do!
I am not diagnosed ASD (however I suspect I am) but everything you said about your other jobs is completely relatable to me. I have 2 children on the spectrum. I work at home as an assistant for 1 person so I don’t have to deal with a bunch of people. I also run a small business where I get to be creative. I believe you are spot on. Working alone and looking at things differently.
1. Been there, done that. If you lack social skills, you can have the best tech skills ever, and they won't matter.
2. You know how toxic the gaming industry is towards their employees right? Deadlines, crunches... Just think of the stress.
3. Self employment, requires a social network to get work from. Now, what did we struggle most with?
4. I've been often called out for my depth of detail I go into. It's unwanted.
Same here for being told I give too much info, and people say my emails are too long. Honestly, I try to give all info so I don’t get responses with questions.
3. Of course you have to do marketing and acquisition. But no, you don't need a social network for that. Respectively you can build a network online, too, you don't need to speak personally or on the phone with people for that.
Back to the social network: when you are specialised in some topics or fields, the most people in your network don't need what you offer. So you have to do acquisition from the start.
4. My customers love that.
I started my first job three weeks ago working at my college bookstore. I live in America btw. Tbh, helping customers is probably one of the better parts of my job, besides processing online orders for textbooks in the back. All I do is find the order out of a mostly organized array of numbered boxes, or pick up books for specific classes for them if they request it. The only thing that me having autism has clashed with my job is when I'm on a tight schedule and I'm doing a monotonous task. I like having a routine, but I cannot do repetitive tasks all day. I need some variety or have something else to do, like listen to music or talk to coworkers so I don't get bored. I think they understand what I'm like because they've only put me on the register once.
I’ve always struggled with finding a job. I’ll go into something thinking it’s the perfect job for me when it’s actually awful.
I once worked as a sales associate at a nutrition and wellness store, which sounds awesome, but I absolutely hated because I felt like I was selling people lies.
I now work as a cashier at a gas station where I have to multitask like crazy and nothing is ever the same (I could be cooking in the deli, cleaning/arranging shelves, folding the laundry, restocking the breakfast bar and hotcase, all while running the register), and everything is super noisy and busy and I get overwhelmed.
I’m now thinking of trying working at the movie theater (movies/filmmaking is one of my interests) or at a flower shop (because who doesn’t like flowers)?
The only reason I didn’t leave the nutrition store job and I haven’t left this current job yet is because I’m scared to try to find anything different. Because what if what seems like the perfect job turns out to be awful? What if I’m bouncing between jobs until everyone in my small town sees me as problematic? Etc.
There are so many careers I would love to pursue, but none of them are super stable and there’s no way of knowing if I’d find success (filmmaking, acting, designing clothes, interior designing, Disney imagineer, musician/dancer/performer). Right now I’m trying to get into a school where I can get an interior design certificate so I can become self employed and design spaces that are sensitive to sensory needs.
Thank you for making these videos, truly. Between Aspergers, ADD, and Me/CFS (chronic fatigue), I miss so many things in most jobs... I appear lazy, I appear not to be listening, I forget things and have awful brain fog. Having to work with people AND remember tasks/training feels like it’ll be the death of me
Ugh I’m trying everything lol I do Gods work and I write. Unfortunately it doesn’t pay very well hahahaha but I’m trying lol I’m in college so hey that’s cool lololol
I just figured out I’m autistic last year (I’m 45), and it explains a lot about my career(s)! I work as a senior IT consultant where I help organizations figure out better ways to manage and present their information internally and externally. This is not what I went to school for 😅 but I’m damn good at it. There’s enough routine in what I do to satisfy my aspie side while having plenty of novelty through working with multiple clients to fulfill my ADHD side. I’ve never told an employer that I have ADHD for fear of discrimination, though my current boss (who owns the company) and I have worked together for almost 8 years, and I may be ready to talk to her about my new self-awareness regarding ASD to help ensure I keep an ideal working environment while providing her the most value from my work.
Programming /tech field is where most adhd, autistic people find their jam
My brother just started at Amazon. I am a stay at home mom, looking into owning my own business.
What does he do exactly
I went into Archaeology as that was my passion and special interest. I qualified last year, but now i'm running into the problem of finding employment. Arch is a small field where corroboration and networking is essential. I was only recently diagnosed with Aspergers. So now i'm stuck, i spent 15 years studying, im 36, unemployed and its causing me so much anxiety finding work. most positions i am qualified for that is available is stuff like reception, call centres etc. I'm so overwhelmed i actually tried to commit suicide a month ago, because i don't know if i can have a future, and working in a place that gives me fight or flight levels of anxiety even after just an hour is no way to live. Iv been trying to make some awareness among my fellow archaeologists, but they don't care or probably think i'm just making stuff up. I don't know what to do from here, im so lost and so stressed.
😔😔😔
Maybe you could be an archeological consultant?
@Nicci Sherwood how are you doing now
@@ioio7470 Managed to get a post doc for a year and hopefully a position at a heritage company soon.
I’m an academic librarian in higher ed. I have to teach and lesson plan and it’s always a struggle. Communication and planning and playing that tenure and promotion game are really difficult.
I presume teaching and similar jobs are probably some of the most difficult for an autistic person to do. That being said, it's certainly not impossible. After all, Temple Grandin is a very well known and successful professor who is on the spectrum.
I love your vids. However, in the practice of practicality none of these job options are very wide scoped or quickly available. Could you make a broader list?
I’m currently on a waitlist for an ASD diagnosis (I’m in the US). I’m a UX Designer and Researcher but have had a few temporary jobs. I got laid off (again) in February and am starting to think if I have some kind of problem (hence my getting a diagnosis after talking to a friend of mine with ASD about it). I actually really love my work and love to be able to think like a user and make products for them. I can definitely relate to the career choices in this list!
What did you need to get hired for that job?
I thought about becoming a UX designer.
You can also solve problems and test stuff outside the technological realm.
As an example, in my city we have all kinds of inspectors for different areas (safety of buildings, cars, quality for hotels and restaurants, etc). They just show up and mark the yes/no squares after the places have been emptied.
I envy them so much.
I was a bar tender in the family business, it was really hard dealing with everybody and on top of it it was long hours, plus I had to keep up with my studies which I ended up dropping, but I did eventually start studying again :)
This video was interesting. I’m a guidence councellor that works in a school. Its the best job I ever had, so fullfilling. Funny enough I have Aspergers and ADD. I was diagnosed recently. I am very good at masking and like to talk to people, when I set the terms. I am an amazing guidence councellor just because even though I have some parts of me that is hard, I see people for who they are, I dont judge and im more empatic than most ppl. I also know very much facts just because I have a amazing mind when I find something interesting.
I have always loved school, its usually not so for us but I was the smart one and got respect for it for some reason. So I kind of turned my interest (school), knowing stuff (I am the know it all for work and studies) into my job. That is what you should do!
I have had some really Aweful jobs, that I now can see was the cause of me being depressed. Like one to one sekler in a jewellery store, real estate agent (I studies 3 years to become one). It didnt ens great, lets just say so 😉
One of my special interests is antiques (im 35 so that is not usual) and drag queens. When I studied I sold and bought antiques as a living. That was also a great job. But I need more structure so a 9-5 job is the best thing for me.
Surely seen priscilla queen of the desert ? (the ozzie movie) on drags, hilarious and well acted. Worked in education as well, I couldnt stand adolescents, their attitude and the expectations from over concerned & a bit spoilt parents, mis and micromanagement. Beeing on the spectrum a bit (+ ADD) better to re school as a translator which Im doing now. Maybe teaching adults once, but in the regular teachers academy's teaching adolescents is compulsory, and I cant motivate others if they arent already. 1 on 1 or small motivated groups are ok, but large unmotivated arent (to me).They drain my energy
That’s a whole lot of I’s you used there. Sure you not just a narcissist who enjoys talking about themselves when nobody even asked?
I am autistic and I am applying for a job from Autism Society Philippines speech. This pandemic ruined it and I had to wait for it. Once the pandemic is over, I will apply for a job. Pity me for my dad's death and loss.
I’ve been working at a job for 17 years. I found a way to do my job extremely well, to the point where most people say I’m the best they’ve ever seen at it. Now management has decide to start changing things around and continue to change things multiple times every month and threaten me when I try to perform my job in a way that makes sense to me. I now have constant meltdowns and have become extremely depressed because of it. I don’t know what to do as I can’t quit because it’s difficult to find a job, especially one that will start me out at the pay I’ve accumulated after 17 years of raises.
Wait until it settles it is going to be okay same at my job
I've been watching your videos since yesterday and it is really helping me to understand myself much better.
I understand why I acted the way I did as a child and it has helped me cope with why I was treated differently.
Thank you for these videos, it is really helping me feel better and I really needed it, I've been feeling down lately and this has shined a light on my world.
Now I just have to connect with myself again because for years I've had difficulty trying to act like others and fit in that I lost myself.
Thank you again! 😄
People always say that IT is the way to go. In my experience, it's great to do computer work no doubt. But dealing with unbelievable stupidity, and a constantly ringing phone ruins it quickly.
no one is going to pay me what my time and energy is worth, and I'm not going to settle for less, so I guess I can only continue waiting for whenever I get to die and escape this toxic nightmare of human stupidity.
I'm just going to point out that a lot of people with autism really excel in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics (including data science and statistics), as well as in the technology sector. If you haven't gone to college and graduated, you definitely should.
Yes indeed!! I also have a degree in chemistry! Thank you so much for the comment! Please subscribe to my channel to see more videos from me :).
@@TheAspieWorld Happily subbed! Great work - keep your videos coming! And thanks for the heart! :-) 😁
College costs money that a lot of us don't have. I work my ass off to keep a roof over my head-trying to scrape or borrow enough money and time to get through college is daunting.
It's tough even if you get in because academic advancement is to a large extent a social game many of us don't excel at. After being diagnosed I at least feel at peace with my disabilities in that area and can accept them for what they are.
I'm dumb autistic who is not good at anything
Laboratory jobs in pharma could also be great. For example, in Quality Control you are performing chemical tests according to a set procedure in a routine fashion but there is also troubleshooting involved when things go wrong.
Unfortunately my attention span is about a minute long lmao, thank you for the ideas (I read the description) :)
currently on working toward the goal of self employment as an artist with my first one-shot comics. feels like it took too long to get here, as i think part of that had to do with trying to function like a neuro-typical person in too many jobs that weren't good for me. better late than never though! thanks for all the awesome vids :)
I want to follow up on my earlier comment and mention that some of us on the spectrum also love animals. We aren't just into technology. Some of us love animals and could probably have jobs geared toward that. Some of us are writers, and we can easily spot grammatical and spelling errors. I don't know how to code or make video games. I wanted to do that when I was younger, but no one showed me how to get the training. There are probably more jobs than you mentioned for us. I do agree on the creativity though. That's definitely a plus.
There was no job for me that fits me. So I am a freelancer, I do copywriting and webdesign. Of course I only work in my homeoffice, I don't have to call anyone and I work when I feel like it. It's perfect for me.
Ive been a truckdriver "lorry driver" for nearly 10 years. Its okay being alone most of the time. Thinking might enjoy voice acting more than what Im doing more just doing jobs from home.
Hi Dan,
As a ASD sufferer, I'm lucky enough to have a job during Covid19. I know many don't have one, I work as a Housekeeper in a hospital. I don’t really love it but it pays pretty well. It's very difficult and I'm constantly on my feet. Thanks for such a fascinating video, very informative 👍🤩😁
hi dan did you know i love you?
I want to own my own business as an interior Designer specialising in kids rooms because I want to turn their imaginations in to a reality for them but I am struggling at the point of owning my own business because there seems to be so much you have to do to be within the guidelines of the law I don't know whether the US is easier but I feel like the whole business side I am just not good at I am currently studying an honours degree then I would like to do my masters but my business savy is not up to scratch and I find it very difficult to concentrate on certain things.
Yes!!
I am going to watch your video course when I can and I am hoping that may give me some pointers :)
Hi Dan, ive been a self employed costume & puppet designer/maker and illustrator for 18 years (17 under Greener Lavelle name). Im moving into more creative direction. It's tough going at the moment as the events industry shut down. Trying to focus on my illustrations but it doesn't pay the bills yet. Can't imagine having a different job so I need to make it work :-D
Totally relate! I qualified as a ski instructor really early at 14 years old, started my first instructing job at 15 (but then the ski slope burned down 😩) and then got my second instructing job at 16 but my mental health spiralled. I’ve tried other customer service job but had meltdowns everyday and ended up in hospital so haven’t worked since. I’d love to be a ski instructor again because I know I’m good at it and it’s creative and active. I can’t drive though and there’s not a slope near me which is really sad!
Moving to a place walking distance from slopes?
My mother found out my brother was autistic as a child but never even questioned me and she has ADHD. I’m recently finding more and more that I closely related to the women’s autism though I’m transgender, it makes a lot more sense and I’m working to be tested further then this one I found online that I scored high for. I’m sharing this video to my freind who also thinks he’s autistic so we can be in this discovery together.
the lgbtq+ is nothing but using neurodivergents struggles . I hope you accept yourself as a woman .
Self employed video editor…perfect job
When I was applying for nuclear engineering graduate schemes I had to do these multiple choice tests that were about how you would respond in given situations. A lot of the time, I didn't think any of them would be how I would respond and one of them even said "Not happy. You do not feel comfortable when your plans change at short notice" in response to being told less than an hour before a presentation that your boss is busy and you're going to have to give it. I had to select that option but was very aware that it was going to count against me in a big way.
Most jobs that have multiple choice screening tests are very aspie unfriendly. It's like they're tailor-made to exclude those with autism. I actually had a non-aspie friend fill that portion out for me, to get me a very basic job at a pharmacy (the front of the store). That job ended after about a year anyway.
The job I have currently was almost a fluke to get... the manager of the department had OCD and liked my "humor" (which was just honesty) ... where during the application process, it pretty much asked you all the questions you'd answer on a resume... and then at the end, asked you to "Attach your Resume"... I wrote in: "Attaching a resume would be redundant, as I just answered all of those questions." It was very nice working with someone with OCD, since I knew exactly what they wanted, how they wanted it done, when they wanted it done, etc.
Recently, that manager left, and instead of promoting me to manager (the only other person working in the department), they hired someone from outside, and it was horrible with the level of uncertainty and lack of communication and not knowing what was expected of me, or if I was meeting expectations, and their overall tone of interaction with me seemed to be annoyed all the time... but I still get maximum raises allowable... so there's that... HOWEVER, due to Covid-19, my position was deemed not needed, so they transferred me to groundskeeping, pulling weeds every morning, at reduced hours...
I'm looking for new employment.
I failed one of those tests when I was young and hadn't been diagnosed yet. Had no idea the reason might be because I was autistic.
You sound like every job coach I ever talked to, with all the computer related jobs, but I can't work with computers, I get very frustrated, and I just completely lack interest.
I'm very good at playing the drums, but it is tricky to find employment with that, so I generally just try to not worry about it too much and not let it get me down.
I spotted a dutch speaker
I get frustrated easily with computers, idk what I'm going to do being autistic amongst other things.
I’m on the spectrum and currently unemployed. My first job was at hardware store where I stocked shelves overnight, I only worked there for two days then quit because I got overwhelmed. This year though, I thought things were going to change, two weeks before quarantine, I was at a job agency where they were helping me get started on my path to a career. I’m 24 and sometimes it gets difficult to search for a job and not hearing anything back(even if it’s for a follow up). But right now, I’m looking into becoming a Videographer and I eventually want to start my own channel.
I have a degree in computer networking, it’s a two year degree but it’s a degree. I already had the opportunity to work for a year as a student worker in IT. I always did better when they had me do things behind the scenes. Like connect new computers, keyboards, replacing printer ink, and going to a staff workstation and help them out. When they put me on the phones, I would get really nervous. I am having trouble finding work now, but I won’t give up.
Thank you so much, man, the video is not only helpful but it gives me some relief and hope.
I started suspecting this year I might be on the spectrum (both sides of the family are aneurotypical), and around the same time I started trying to build a career as a gamer/writer. 100% would recommend. Pay's not great, but I'm happier overall and I feel more balanced.
This was really helpful for me. I lost my job back in March and I’ve been more recently looking for work. Feeling really overwhelmed. I have so much customer service/retail/cosmetic experience but I just can’t find a good fit for me. That pays a decent enough wage to live on. I’m not really techy but I so wish I was. Thanks for a great video. I found you more recently and you have great informative videos. So thank you 💕
Hi, Dan❣. Day 140 of hard lockdown for us in South Africa... My son is despairing of ever getting a job. Thank you for this video ❣🐸
You are welcome!! I know he can get a job!!
The Aspie World : Bless you. Being a young, Caucasian male in SA is a challenge in itself.
Everyone is different with autism due to it being a spectrum. What maybe right for one autistic person may not be right for another. For example one maybe good at customer service and retail jobs, and the other not so much. They could be good at food service jobs or so. I am thankful and very lucky I found a job where the employer was not against hiring me due to my other disabilities like chronic back pain, etc. Not so much the autism itself. Standing for extended periods of time sucks for me, and this new job I got recently I can sit during my entire shift and only stand/walk to wipe down the game machines and do other light cleaning tasks before shift change
My new job only has one employee per shift! This is the best thing ever. I do sort of have to deal with the general public. They mostly know what they are going in there for as it's just a gaming slots machine room/area. It feels soo good not to need a manager there or other coworkers. Our job is only to clean the machines, make sure the machines are working, and if not we call it in. No cash handling or touching unless we're given a tip from the gamer/customer. Keep the place nice, clean, and tidy. I'd say 1st easiest job I've had. Cleaning work might be good for autistic people too such as a janitor, housekeeper, etc.
I'm on the same boat about this video and I am Autistic and I been trying to get a job which I like to do like at a video games stores or gadget shops but every-time I apply they see that i have autism I rejected just like that. Right now I'm on a risk of reduce my benefits from the JobCentre for not not apply to jobs. All I look on jobsites was manager jobs and I want a job that make me feel comfortable with my days aswell. Hope your understand about me and hope you can reply me back if you can.
For some reason, your videos help me relax, love 'em
im 15 getting closer to the age where ill need a job and finding one on the spectrum can be hard because most of them involve social interaction. i always wanted to become an estate agent because i have an interest in houses but i was shocked to find out how much social interaction was involved.
You can do it dude
@@TheAspieWorld theres probably plenty of other jobs out there that i am unaware of that might be perfect for me
i'd like to end up self employed at some point too
Don’t limit yourself with your beliefs. It’s still possible to become a real estate agent.
Get into programming/coding .. its heaven for autistic ppl
Loved what you shared. The background music, though was distracting to me which made it hard for me to focus on your words. I am sure I am just being overly sensitive. Great Info!
I discovered this channel via my sweet and supportive husband, who has been helping me with applications for employment. I have struggled all my life to get employed. Other people that I won't name have called me lazy, never understanding how hard it is for me to get a job and keep a job. I have struggled to find one that fits me. I am still looking to this day to find where I can fit in. I am quite intelligent but hopelessly awkward. Anxiety is my biggest issue. It's like a constant monkey on my back. I am a writer, have a vivid imagination, but can't seem to fit in anywhere. I am watching this video now in the hopes I do find something someday. Thank you for your channel.
I feel like i never fit in to what most people on the autism spectrum are like, i am NOT into IT or technology at all, i wish i was. I feel like i'm too dumb for that. I'm not a gamer either, like most people on the spectrum seem to be. I'm great at things that i can't work with, like singing, psychology and art. And no i can't study to become a psychologist because i never even went to high school, and i can't handle school environments or pressure/stress, and i'm already 30 years old. I also have ADD which makes me very fatigued, especially with all sorts of social interaction.
But a great video non the less, i will think alot about those last suggestions you made, you made some great points there. Thank you Dan 🙏
Maybe you can write about art therapy? Create an Instagram and sell art pieces or work about art and how it relates to psychology?
@@gemimarigby2471 Thanks for the suggestions, i will definitely have to think about the art therapy thing. I sadly struggle too much with making art, have some sort of blockage and i can't deal with instagram, it stresses me out too much. I'm also good at acting and doing imitations and things like that, but i never got into theater.
You can get your GED if you want to and you don't have to go to highschool. You can also check out www.coursera.com and look at cheap or even free classes there. I'm not a trained psychologist but I am using Instagram to build an account where I give out my own tips for personal therapy. Lots of counselors and life coaches out there who build their platforms on social media aren't certified or formally educated I believe.
Hi there, recently found out I am aspie after years of masking and dealing with depression. I’m new to your channel but see you wrote a book - that’s something I also feel compelled to do, especially to share the female experience in a new way. But I feel very hesitant for a number of reasons. Would you ever be interested in doing a vid on why you decided to write a book, and what that process was like? Were people in your life accepting or judgmental towards you speaking out in general? Thanks in advance if you read this - be well!
I can relate! I've worked in retail and restaurants and it was awful! I've only recently discovered I'm on the spectrum. I haven't gotten an official diagnosis, yet. I'm in the process of doing so. I currently work PT as a receptionist on 2nd shift. I work every other week. Honestly, it's the easiest job ever, but the environment is not great. I've been here almost 6 months and I'm honestly not sure how much longer I can stay. :(
Wow 👏 I love all your videos! I've been bing watching them. It gives me so much hope for my nephew whom may have ASD. Thank you!
This is absolutely awesome thank you so much for uploading this video to UA-cam
1. Computers
2. Gaming
3. Self employment
4. Problem solving, software tester
Looks like bad news if your special interest is not IT related 🙄
I love interacting with people. (Ironic this came up as I spent at least an hour talking with a neighbor yesterday, getting to know them and feeling they may be on the spectrum like myself... or at least I know they have been heavily impacted by trauma...just met them, and they told me a lot of personal details but I do feel that they walked away with a deeper understanding of themselves and gave them some recommendations on UA-cam to expand) actually miss the random conversations with strangers I would have at work. It's the mean ones I dont like and would cause me the most issues. I learned the job like the back of my hand, I could talk my way out of just about any scenario... but the emotionally charged, manipulative people really sucked the energy right out of me. I may of only spoken to them over a phone but I got to the point where I could easily peghole the personality type I worked with based on some really subtle signs...
Also management were a huge issue. They weren't very communicative with me, they moved away from software that helped the team feel more cohesive (it was telecommunications) which is integral with keeping employees happy.
I've gotten to the point where I'm already anticipating I am managements worst nightmare and therefore really have no desire playing the typical employment game with all its office politics. No thanks...
Plus given my attention span can be atrocious at times (seriously think I'm adhd but due to lack of money and not wanting meds, it's a self dx) anything I do would have to be something I'm very passionate about. That's the only way I would be able to keep up on even the rough days.
Oh yeah and I will randomly talk to strangers on the trails as well. It's been some very interesting interactions but to say an autistic cannot excel at being communicative is a lie. I'm actually probably too much at times... something I'm *trying* to work on but it's sometimes *so* hard to not say something, especially if I think it may alter their life for the better. The best conversations are the ones where they've said they felt like like our brief interaction was something that was meant to be. I do hope those people's lives did change for the better.
I am currently working as a research assistant in the university. I am also on the spectrum. I don't think people with asd cannot have a good job. We can find something we good at and make a contribution to the society. It needs efforts and once accept that and really try to do, don't make excuse. There has place in the society for you.
I have trouble with sticking to a Job, I get targeted when I start a job because people perceive me to be different and once it starts to affect my health I start to go off sick but then I just end up leaving the job because I refuse to work for an employer who bullies their employees into quitting.
I havent been very successful with having a real job. Ive had a few part time jobs where i work alone. But even those were stressful and i try so hard to not let anyone down and i struggle to say No and so can end up working for much more time than i am up to in paid and unpayed areas. I then end up melting down and unable to even care for myself and end up hiding in my bedroom in the dark under my blankets. I live alone and have pets. So letting myself get to that situation is something i should stop letting happen. But it is an issue of wanting to be helpful and not able to communicate my needs or how i am feeling. Im kind of enjoying everything being stopped and shut and having to stay home away from others during this virus situation. But i know I am also losing the little bit of functioning among other people skills i had.
The difficult thing is finding these jobs. One positive thing about the pandemic is that companies are learning the value of remote work. I'm going to finish my accounting masters and hope I can get a remote job working at home... with numbers.
Really like what you do over there. Keep up the good vlog 👍
I’m on the spectrum, and have held work consistently for the last 5 years as an LVN. Try, fail, learn, try again, fail better.
Ive got no problem getting jobs in my field, IT customer support. The problem keeping my job once the job becomes too demanding. When theres high turnover, changes in leadership and new people join the team I need to work closely with cause me to spiral out of control with sensory overload to the point of shutting down and not being able to complete my tasks because im preoccupied with trying to mask and do my job at the same time tome. I have to take naps through the day and start ignoring my job duties to cope and stop the suicidal ideation. I then start to feel ashamed of not living up to my potential and contributing to society and letting down my coworkers, parents and society and feel guilty that my coworkers have to pick up my slack. This is usually when I have an impulsive need to leave the job because I feel like they have figured me out and that I cannot recover from the bad impression I leave with my coworkers due to my mask slipping. I feel the need to have to start over at a new company with new people who dont know me at all so I can get a fresh start and all is well until the cycle start again, I crash and burn then have to leave to avoid harsh criticism as well as being gossiped about as being the weirdo who has meltdowns whenever the going gets tough. I am looking at changing fields to something non customer facing to hopefully be able to stick to the job for a long period of time and finally become independent and move out of my parents home.
My sister and me both have autism. Types of jobs that worked well for us are doing repetitive tasks that other people find boring. Tasks that could be done by a computer, but because of financial restraints of the declining economy, companies must have tasks carried out by humans. Working in a vault where cutting open bags and sorting money for counting. Or, my sister working sorting mail. These tasks can be easily do by us as we let our minds wander about other things.
I struggle with most work environments being way too fast-paced. They want everything done NOW, but I get so overwhelmed. I need to work in a field that is not so fast-paced and demanding. I am very skilled at fine detail... but not how the details are connected. I am very good at quality assurance work and editing, but the work is not fulfilling. How do you battle the desire for fulfilling work but also a desire for work that doesn't launch you into shutdowns?
I'm actually working my dream job as a comic artist and illustrator as an autistic person! I'm self employed so I can work whenever I want, be super flexible, but enjoy what I do enough to do it to a high standard (I hope). My only problem is the pay isn't amazing, and I've been thinking that if I want to save to move out I may need a part-time job on the side. Finding a job where I'll be comfortable and able to work well will be hard, and given the current Covid-19 recession it may be better to stay put and let other people who need them more take the positions...I dunno 🤔
I work in the field of science as Reg Nurse. And we have more than a couple with autism. Some have more problems than others. But it works very well when the job are clear and get to focus in a good working environment. Anything from testing, sorting and fixing thing. Being part of the big machine that is a science group that gather information. Some read, write, produce articles. Even going around and educate about their field of expertice. I think in science it is good to have people asking those extra questions and thinking "diffrent" sometimes.
Great video, but what if you are not a typical atypical, like me, I’m not very creative, not very technical either. I’d say I have above average intelligence/intellect but have issues with retaining information so therefore I don’t really know much and find it challenging to learn new things. I also don’t really have special interests, I’m only really interested in things that help me escape ‘me’, like tv and games but if you ask me questions about them I wouldn’t generally know the answer. I’ve had numerous job that’s haven’t lasted long and recently tried streaming on twitch but the demand to be regular was too much and the social side of it really got to me. Now for the first time from leaving school and at the age of 33(diagnosed at 31) I’m now unemployed, have no idea what I want to or can do as a job now, not even sure I want to deal with the stresses or the challenges that work brings anymore.
To my knowledge, I’m not technically minded - though, so much of what you say about holding a job / not holding it - ring true in my life.
I'm 25 years old, been applying off an on since I was 16, but never managed to get one. Thing is I'm perfectly capable of working. The only thing preventing from obtaining employment is the fact that I never get past the interview.
At this point I'm probably unemployable due to how suspicious this lack of work history would look to a employer.
Take advantage of your ability to hyper-focus by gathering requirements and streamline process improvement to streamline business operations.
In my experience, when you reveal to your employer that you have a disability, your employer will target you for disciplinary action and dismissal.
I can relate to this so badly and have struggled with jobs my whole life, when I was young I was diagnosed with ADHD which is linked with autism. I seriously need help on where to go because I'm at the point and it's closing I said I would end my life when I hit 30 because I am so fucking fed up, sick and tired of my life... 😪
Trying to help my 18 year old. He is struggling a lot. Im so very sorry. I hear your pain. Please hang in there.
Trying to start selling art, once I finally get my painting done. This seems to be my only hope, because I seem to burn out more than anyone at work, and I don't think anybody there buys it. And everywhere you go it is under-staffed, where everyone has to do the work of 2 people.
i find im ok with brief contacts with people..but when trapped in a group i can get edgy. im a bus driver..im ok in the bus.but feel really bad with all the other driver in the lunchroom. just gotta limit my lunchroon time. haa haa. great videos mate👍
Just do what you love!
Why did Anna stop making videos?
Thank You So much for this video , Dan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This was So helpful !!!!!!!!!!!
I know photography pays pretty well and I can take pretty good photos but I have no idea how to market anything like that or what to take a picture of because I feel like I would get tired of doing stock photos for subscription companies
Being self-employed is THE best way to accommodate for your needs. However, getting enough income to make a living is a whole other story. Also, you need high levels of executive function, specifically you need a good portion of self-discipline and being able to prioritise.
Speaking from experience here. Four years of trying to make it on my own due to the fact that I couldn't bare to work in my industry for someone else anymore.
That was four years of hard work paid with poverty, overwhelm, insecurity and anxiety.
Right now my professional self-esteem is very low. I can't figure out a job that works for me as an employee, and I can't work for myself either.