How I got an office job - in Denmark

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I'm from Denmark, but I hope my story will help you get a better life - my job is difficult, challenging and rewarding. I work with some great people, and I'm proud that I got the job before I turned 30.

I went unemployed for two years. Before that: Lived at home or at cheap college dorms, my parents supported me, and I received trustfund money from the Danish welfare state - a low payout called Education Support. I tried to apply for library jobs, but nobody wanted me. After one year of unemployment I went desperate and seeked help. I got some help from a group of social workers, who said I should try to apply for a job at Specialisterne. Specialisterne is a remarkable Danish social firm, who only employs people with ASD. They make money out of IT tasks that are tedious and requires some autistic thinking: data entry, updating web sites, software testing etc.

I was fairly good at the job, but they wouldn't pay me to do it. Instead, I received unemployment benefit while working there - and waited for Specialisterne to help me get a real job.

After a lot waiting, and me going more and more desperate for a job, finally something good happened: The largest company in Denmark, Novo Nordisk, had job openings for autistic people only. One of them was at a small publishing unit, who handle the paper work related to something called the regulatory affairs - and they had an archive, which was a positive thing for me, being a librarian.

I went to the job interview with low self esteem, but the bosses seemed positive, and believed that I could do it. The phone rang they said yes.

I got hired for two years. I'm halfway through the proces and thankfully I'm doing a lot of different tasks, and my colleagues seems happy with me. Some of them are even impressed.
Still, there are some conflicts between me and some people there. I guess that just happens with guys like me.

Of course, it would never have happened, if Novo Nordisk didn't have a special programme made especially for people with autism.
But I think that I was applying for the wrong jobs in the first place: I'm better off working in an office, doing simple tasks other than working in the public sector.

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

(Holder det lige på engelsk for boardets skyld ^^)

I just recently got diagnosed myself. It's really great you got a job..! congratulations!

I'm really curious about how you got into contact with Specialisterne, I do know of them, and has considered calling them. Did they actively help you find a job? or were you part of their education programme AspIT?

For your new job, did you have any past work experience or qualifying education? I have a past in retail and some office work a long time ago. But burned out pretty severely. I work mostly with graphic design on my own now. I'm just wondering what it takes to get a job like the one you have?

Thanks in advance Also nice to meet a another dane in here

/Matt

I got in contact with Specialisterne through a social worker working for my municipality (Copenhagen)... My job center paid for an internship at Specialisterne. A part from doing IT work and training, they would actively look for jobs for me, and it worked in the long run.

The social workers at Specialisterne has recently been replaced... So I don't know if they are any good at it anymore. Instead, try contacting Autika if you live somewhere around Copenhagen. They can help you with all sorts of jobs. http://www.autika.dk

Thanks a lot..!

I'll try and check the link out

What a completely wonderful program. That's great. I think maybe with a 1/68 diagnosis rate in the US, something similar might have some chance of evolving here...too bad it'll take another 20 years, and by then the people running it will assume it's only for young men! (I'll be a 65-year-old lady by then, but as retirement will have evaporated here, I'll be job-hunting.) And it'll take another 30 years before the program people accept the idea that anyone else might have AS.

But. Congratulations, I'm glad for you.

Be nice if I could get a job like that here in Australia but sadly a company like this opening here is slim to nil.