Working alone vs open plan office

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Hi all,

I've got a bit of a dilemma that I'd like your input on. While it probably seems I'm in a very desirable situation, I am quite confused and am trying to make the right choice.

Scenario: I'm finishing off my uni studies this year, and have been offered two jobs. I have been doing one of them part-time for a few weeks now. I work essentially by myself on a big project, and everyone else in the team does the same. I share the office with one other person and we barely speak because we have to concentrate.

The other is a permanent position starting next year, in an open plan office where I expect there will be a fair bit of social interaction.

I'm trying to decide which scenario is better for someone like me who has aspie traits. I'm not great with social interaction but I feel that if I "lock myself up" in an office all day with nobody to talk to, I'll just be encouraging my introverted behaviour, and maybe surrounding myself with others is a better idea. Most jobs I have had in the past have been fairly social, and I found myself left out of a lot of the "goss" etc. but I'm not sure that going solo is the best idea. So far I feel quite lonely and bored.

To those of you with experience in either a solitary or social-type job, what have you found to be the pros and cons of working in a solitary/social environment from an AS traits perspective? I'd particularly like to hear from those who have worked "alone" for some time.

I want to choose the right job as I'm hoping to make it my long-term career!

Thanks!

I have worked in open plan offices, social offices with public contact, and in my own office.

I found some difficulties mixing with other staff in the social offices with public contact. I was sometimes criticised as being aloof, when it was my shyness and formality (and lack of social skills). When I moved into offices with more academic-like atmosphere it was better. Even in my current office, though, I have some difficulties with the socialising. I went on a conference with the others and they wanted to hang out together at every meal (breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon coffee, evening meal...) - I just found this so claustrophobic. I couldn't stand it and was the odd one out who simply ignored most group activities with my co-workers at this conference. Occasionally I have difficulty managing my emotions, if something goes wrong or I feel threatened by changes or by people pushing their opinions on matters that I am responsible for - people increase the risk of "blowing up" (or maybe having a meltdown?). Fortunately, I have a very understanding boss and I can talk to him if I am feeling overwhelmed. It happens occasionally.

My current situation is: I have my own office. That allows me to switch off the fluorescent lights which bother me. I am less bothered by the sounds around me, and less "on guard" all the time, feeling like I am being watched. I can put my headphones on whenever I want to block sounds or conversations from the open area outside my office (there are up to 6 staff members working in the common area outside my office - I am the most senior member). I can always walk out to the common area and chat if I need social interaction (I like a certain amount of one to one interaction each day, but find group stuff less comfortable).

If it were me, I would go for the quieter job. I understand the "noble" ideas about mixing more with others and not pandering to a desire for social isolation, but the reality is you will be more tired out by the social job - playing to your weakness rather than to your strength. I originally wanted to do something that would help others - like social work - and not be a librarian because I could see myself hiding away with the books on the shelves and never being seen again I eventually discovered that I wasn't good at social work (who'd have thought? Maybe failing the course suggested that to me) and that I was good at research. Once I got into a research position, I flourished. I have been able to use my particular skills and some of my special interests (like computer programming) and realise that I was built for working with information, not for working with people. Now I don't fight it. If you need a certain amount of people contact, maybe you can get that some other way (eg join a group of people interested in your special interest: I have a maybe-Aspie friend who likes railways, so he meets together with fellow railway enthusiasts every weekend - during the week he works alone).

a job that forces more socialization than you are inherently comfortable with will be sure to keep your anxiety level high.

i have read posts by people who have customer service or phone jobs and say they have learned a lot from it. it's your judgment on whether it will cause you great stress (thereby putting you in jeopardy of being unable to keep the job) or be helpful. it could go either way. it might actually depend on the people you are working with.

unless you can afford to lose or quit the job, i would advise being cautious about what environment you put yourself into.

personally i have had to leave a number of jobs because of issues related to the social environment, and having no escape from it.

I agree with that. I've worked in a variety of situations, from being in a warehouse with one other person to a huge maze of an open-plan office. The open-plan office was terrible, in my opinion. I think it's hard to really build social skills in a situation where you already might be uncomfortable. For me, my work was stressful already, so being surrounded by people all the time made it worse. Of course, your mileage may vary.

Thanks all for your input, seems pretty unanimous. *does more thinking*

The problem with large open plan offices is the NOISE!

First: "I went on a conference with the others and they wanted to hang out together at every meal (breakfast, morning coffee, lunch, afternoon coffee, evening meal...) - I just found this so claustrophobic. I couldn't stand it and was the odd one out who simply ignored most group activities with my co-workers at this conference."

OMG! Me too! Just because we are together all week does NOT include breakfast. I get so that I take the break cookies back up to my room and sit alone for 5 MINUTES just to get away.

Okay, now what was the question? Sorry yellow, One-A-N got me sidetracked.

My job originally had all tiny private offices with attached labs. Maybe 2 people sharing. When the building was renovated it became BIG labs shared by 4-8 people, with attached cubicle style office suites for 12. Luckily I got to design mine (really, the whole suite). But even with the 5' partitions with hanging files attached between units, one can still hear everything everywhere. I often wonder if it had been this way to begin with, would I have taken the job?

It drives me crazy. There are people who stand and chat at your shoulder until you literally tell them to go away. In fact, I just dismissed one a few minutes ago because he was back for the third time today. Every time I change my screensaver or desktop wallpaper they have to stare and ask about it. I finally put up a field of grass, and a dripping digital clock (hint hint). Some days I am very tired and really wish I could put my head down on my desk for 20 mintues. My solution is to walk at lunch for the entire 30 mintues alone.

On the other hand, the more I try to 'work at it', the better I get. When I was alone all day, I got kind of funny. I would stumble over conversations and forget words. It made me feel more isolated, as in alone in the universe. I am probably better off with people, than totally alone all day. But I'll never LIKE them! LOL!

What I really want is a happy medium. The ability to get away if I need it? A place to go sit and work away from the others? Of course if someone gave me an office with a door, there is no doubt I'd be in there with it shut 24/7!

Haha no worries, I too could related to this, the breaks should be BREAKS, right? I had a temp job once where about ten of us were hired for a while so we basically just hung with each other. But that included every break which we had to take at the same time, and the conversations were exhausting.


Exactly, a happy medium is what I'm after and I'm afraid the open plan office is not going to provide that. But I do get lonely without any interaction so my current job doesn't exactly suit my needs either, as is a bit tooo quiet. I just have to decide which is preferable.

In the last job I had, I started off working alone and then my supervisor (who I miss immensely) helped me out a lot and my skills improved so I picked the latter of the three.

Yeah.

Private offices limit noise sometimes, but you'll still have co-workers coming in to interrupt you needing something.
If you have a private office, make it a point to socialize on the way in, at the water cooler, etc. at times.