best jobs for people with aspergers

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What about being a financial analyst who handles investments?
Or an accountant?

Nothing wrong with trying something. If you try something and it doesn't suit you, go on to something else. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, as they say.

Games programmer!
Games designer
Games tester <heaven>

Please say geologist, please say geologist!

Tim

Tim, I'm a geologist!! ! Exploration work is the best.... I used to get paid to hike alone in Greenland! And live in a camp of ten people, most of whom are quite solitary, but friendly, because the nature of the job self-selects. Awesome!

But beware larger teams and established sites where a love (or at least tolerance) of isolation isn't an issue. I'm on a huge mine site at the moment and am having completely ridiculous issues because my co-workers think I'm aloof and, apparently, that I'm better than them (which I didn't think before, but now, thanks to their attitude, I do).

For the most part, though, geologist... love it.

Games programmer!
Games designer
Games tester <heaven>

For me, it's more about the environment and management style of the workplace than the actual job.

I've done a lot of admin jobs, also I've worked as an events assistant and tour guide for an international summer school programme, I've also worked in video games, and as a music consultant and I am currently working as a disability access officer.

What made the difference between the jobs that were possible and those that weren't were:

1) How often people bugged me. Or, more specifically, the amount of face-to-face and verbal contact. In my current job, the main form of communication is by email, which is much better for me than the kind that requires direct social interaction.

2) Whether or not it is a quiet environment. I have sensory overload problems so I need QUIET. Most of the places I've worked have been reasonably quiet, which is good. I also need good lighting and natural light otherwise I get headaches and feel nauseous and tired all the time and on edge.

3) The attitide of your colleagues. I've worked in 2 jobs where I was bullied, 1 job where my contract wasn't renewed because, although they said on many occasions that they were pleased with the quality of my work, they didn't like having someone who was 'different' in the office and they didn't like the fact that I didn't go drinking at the pub with them all after work - they thought it was anti-social despite the fact that I was always polite to them. I also had a job offer withdrawn when they found out I had AS - so their general attitide towards disability is important.

4) I like jobs where I am left alone to get on with my work. I have had jobs in the past where things are set up so that you frequently have to get up and ask people for more work, or how to do things. I would much rather I was told what I needed to get done that week, and was then left alone to get on with it. I prefer instructions to be written step-by-step - I don't like having to ask people or have them explained verbally - I don't see any reason not to write things down. It saves people having to stop their work to come and show me what to do, and it is a lot easier for me to learn by a method that doesn't involve social interaction.
I also think it is important not to work somewhere where people are gossipping all the time or playing jokes or practical jokes (I don't understand these behaviours and they frighton and upset me). I need quiet environment where I am left alone to get on with work and only interrupted when absolutely necessary (and then, where possible I prefer the interruption to be via email).

5) I don't like it when people try to socialise me or try to 'find out' about me by asking me lots of questions, especially personal stuff like about my family and where I live and my interests - I get that they are trying to be nice, but as I find socialising difficult and sometimes unpleasant, I would prefer it if they left me alone and it was left up to me to decide to talk to them about myself when I feel safe and comfortable enough to do so.

6) I also avoid places that have 'unofficially' compulsory social events, like Christmas parties etc. If they do have such events, I ask to be excused as my disability means I cannot take these events - I'll either have a panic attack, or start stimming wildly (which I don't really want to do in front of work colleagues) or I'll collapse (seriously!).

7) I also like to have a physical barrier between myself and other employees - at work we have screens between our desks. They're not very high - if you sit up completely straight you can see right over them- so nothing too scary - but it's nice not to be sitting directly opposite someone with no barrier in between.

I like to have my own desk (or even just my own allocated drawer) - somewhere where I can leave my work and it will not be disturbed or interfered with by other people. Someone went through my desk and files at a previous work place and threw out important things without consulting me and I was really upset and actually felt quite violated. Where I work, I have my own desk and drawers and people don't go into them.

This is all I can think of for now - and it depends what kind of things you are interested and also the extent to which your AS interferes with your ability to work.