Work Placement- What should I ask to do?

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Londonhoggle
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19 Oct 2012, 6:17 pm

I have accepted the offer of a Work Placement with BT (a British Phone and telecoms provider). It is to work within a particular team in a office environment. They were mainly interested in my backstory and whether I was PC literate, took me as a student type. I have visited the office, met with the three managers, seen my desk and and have a rough idea some of the stuff fixed for me to do there for the first few days. I start in two weeks (Bonfire night), doing four mornings a week for four weeks.

Essentially the manager was pleased with having two weeks more to think before I start because it gives her time to think of what I can do, whom and to what I can be put to work with. She is genuinely interested in what I would like to get out of my four weeks, at least in this planning stage and the place seemed relaxed, with quiet spaces and socially cohesive so if it works out, it will work out.

There is no chance of a job directly at the end (they haven't hired externally for 6 years, and it was clear it was too social a environment to do longer term), but I do get to experience what a proper interview would be like. And with some appointment
juggling I can hopefully get fairly real time advice from my employment advisor, but what I'd like to ask the Wrongplanet community is, what life/ skills development boxes should I focus on ticking here, from the point of view of a Aspie? any real life examples I should emulate?



StevieC
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19 Oct 2012, 9:10 pm

the amount that BT charge their customers I would want paid. 8O


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cozysweater
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19 Oct 2012, 10:20 pm

What is the end result that you want? Not just "a job", what kind of job and in what kind of setting and with what kind of duties?
Personally, I'm best when I can be consistently busy with projects I can focus on. I'm good with customer service in that I always do the best I can for everyone in the most competent and kind way I can, but sometimes people react negatively to my social deficits. Although I can do it, direct customer service is not my first choice. (also I find it stressful)
My skills are best suited to more solitary detail-oriented projects. I'm great in a records department. The little nitpicky projects that most people hate are right up my alley.
I spent my work day today checking database records for accuracy, corporate card statements against receipts, compiling a list of employee start dates for a coworker, scanning, sorting and storing records, and re-lettering an annoyingly messy office sign. It was a really good day! Also, I got to "solve" a problem for someone I like by foisting it off on someone else while still managing to look like I'm on top of things : ) Score!
Seriously, all that probably sounds like the hell of a thousand paper cuts to other people, but I LOVE this kind of stuff. That's why my job is so perfect for me.
Figure out what it is you enjoy doing but can also be paid for, figure out the setting that works best for both and problem solved.
Also, success takes the sense to differentiate between what's yours and someone else's dreams.