Do Aspies have a hard time finding jobs?

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Next time I apply for a job, I will basically tell them that I am a crazy, recovering drug/alcohol addicted person with AS whose genius they will probably never be able to appreciate because they are too average in intelligence, and if they can't deal with that, then f**k off. I think they will either A) hire be B)get scared and call security/police or C)tell me they would never hire anyone with an attitude like mine. I think it's worth trying once, if for no other reason than to see their reaction

I got my first few jobs through temp agencies, so I wouldn't have to interview. One turned into a permanent position, and I stayed at that company for 10 years. After about 4 years I started suggesting things that could be done differently, and turned that into a promotion. I got a reputation for thinking outside the box, and my eccentricities were tolerated.

It was only after several years that I realized my pay rate was quite a bit less than what I could make elsewhere doing the same work. It took me about a year and a half to get comfortable enough with interviews to be offered another job, but it finally happened.

I found out last week that the head boss/manager guy at my work has Aspergers. It doesn't make much difference though as he works in the restaurant's office and the supervisors on the floor are generally borish nasty people who take the job way too seriously. I'm looking for a new job now - I never have problems locating a job or getting hired, but keeping jobs is really tough for me.

I can't get past most jobinterviews ,
especially with more than one interviewer it's impossible.
Not that I'm not diagnosed etc. and just suspect Asperger
or something similar behind my eclatant social incompetence.
Last time I was employed the employer skipped the interview.
But I couldn't hold the job (programming robots) because
the production machines were nearby
and their noise interrupted permanently my concentration,
also the working place was a sort of corridor.
Previously I couldn't hold a job because it required using a GUI,
and flashy images make my concentration impossinle as well.
I'm also too clumsy to work with a mouse efficiently,
I definitely need a commandline interface.

I've been there, but I try to sell both my work and how interested I am in the job. This seems to be taken into more account than any nonverbal issues.

I have an extremely difficult time getting jobs. I've applied for about 100 jobs in the past 5 years and have gotten only 3 calls.
Two of those interviews were conducted by humans, and I did not get either job. I have no idea what I could have done wrong, I thought I did great.
The third interview was a test on a computer to test my competence in the required job functions - I barely spoke to anyone. I did get that job, but quit after a few months. It was at a customer service call center. I found that after a while it did help to ease some of my anxiety about talking on the phone, panic attacks were less frequent and severe, but it was still too stressful an environment.
The longest I ever kept a job was 12 months. It was at an art-house theatre with one screen, so there would be a small rush that would last 20 minutes or so, and then it was very calm and quiet for the duration of the film. I could just read or draw or whatever.

Anyway, about a year ago, I finally gave up looking for work and just started working for myself doing web and graphic design, but I'm still having a similar problem:
Prospective clients will email me, seeming very interested in my services, but after I reply, they never contact me ever again. This happens very time.
I did get as far as talking on the phone with one client (and I say "client" because we had, by this point, made a business agreement). I thought the conversation went well (He asked where to send my check). He never contacted me again.
I so don't understand. I'm thinking I may need to hire someone to deal with the public for me, because it seems like I alienate them every time, and I can't afford it.
I have no idea what I'm doing wrong, it doesn't seem like this should be so difficult. When I send emails, even short ones, I spend hours and hours reading and re-reading them, revising and editing to make sure they make sense and seem natural. I'll do the same thing with this posting.
If I absolutely have to talk on the phone, I anticipate the course of the conversation and write out a script beforehand.
I think part of the problem is that I offer too much information. Ugh. Any advice?

I do that too. But lately I cut way down. Since I always have to read everything 50 million times before I send it, I've started sending just short emails.

It goes a lot faster that way. If they are interested they will ask for more info. If not, then I didn't waste a long time on it. Good luck.

I find trying to find a job infuriating I have applied for around 150 jobs in the last two years and been on dozens of interviews.

I have managed to obtain three jobs, one a rubbishy job in retail the other two being accountancy related jobs of the decent accountancy related jobs which I kept for between 1 and 3 months one of those jobs I thoroughly deserved the sack from the other of which I found totally unfair.

I find not being able to find and of course infinitely more importantly hold down a good job highly depressing as I am reasonably intelligent with 8GCSEs (UK 16 yo qualifications) A-C and 4 A Levels A-C (UK 18 yo qualifications). One of the things that I used to motivate myself whilst I was at school that I would obtain better grades and therefore a better job unfortunately only the first part of that statement is true as although I achieved better grades I currently have a dead job whilst most of them have good office jobs with career prospects which is ohh so depressing

I am 25-years-old and have never had a job. It's downright embarrassing and ridiculous by now.

First of all, I only scored a scant few interviews. I did splendidly on the prerequisite written/computerized tests. So far, so good. My proficiency is high enough for me to warrant an interview. Again, so far, so good. Finally, I went for the interview. I believe I did well but then the standard phone call comes in: "Thank you for you interest in working for [insert company name here]. We wish to inform you that [company] you have not been selected. Thank you for your time and consideration..."

There is also the mind-boggling task of FINDING a job opening. I have zero friends and social networks so it's hard to figure out where to go.

I wish to conclude with a question. Is it true that more than one-half of all jobs are not officially listed (i.e. not on Monster, classifieds nor fliers)? I read that some of them are reserved solely for interpersonal connections. Please advise if this information is erroneous. Thank you!

MANAGER: "So how do you compare yourself with the others in mobile programming field?"

ME: "Uhmmm... I don't know, I don't know them, we've never met..."


I didn't get the job.

David1981 asked "Is it true that more than one-half of all jobs are not officially listed (i.e. not on Monster, classifieds nor fliers)?"

Over the years I have heard this, or something similar to it, from a variety of job counselors. The jargon they use to describe these jobs is "the hidden job market".

I'm a student in high school, and I have no idea what I'll be doing next year at Uni, if I go to uni. It looks less stressful than a job.

My plans for getting a job involve working on programming stuff in my spare time until I do something that'll get me users. From there, I can hopefully get noticed/hired.

I know it's not a good plan, but if I have to work with as*holes, or work in a cubicle, or work on stupid boring problems, or work with constant interruptions, or within stupid limitations then I'll probably lose it / walk out / hit people with chairs, within a few weeks. At the least, I won't be able to focus on what I'm supposed to be doing, as happens with school.

At least that way I'll be doing something I enjoy doing. Something worth doing.

It was negative but people need it from time to time.

the job search is the worst possible thing for a person like myself. even if i am qualified or get an interview, i am not interested in what i would be doing or working on. i have a hard time with authority and am very independent. it has caused me a lot of problems. more than that people mistake me for a "people person" upon what i am assuming is the way i look. but i can't stand dealing with people.

I'd have quit my job a long time ago if I weren't so terrified of the job search.

I know it's been like years since I've posted but I felt like I needed to reply to this.

Uh, how the hell did you come to THAT conclusion?

I never said AS was bad.

My point is that OTHER people see AS as a negative thing and AS A RESULT they will discriminate. So I am saying why tell them that when the chances are, even if the employer doesn't know what AS is, all it takes is for him to do a 5 second google search and see AS next to the word 'autism' for him to make a dumb and uneducated conclusion.

It's unfortunate but no one said life was fair bud.