Finding and Keeping jobs - Tips and Advice

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Job searching Is Worse than having a job I hate. I hate the rejections

If you are high functioning enough, and tough enough, join a Union! I joined a Union two years ago. I make kick ass money now, outrageous benefits and protections.

Working outside in direct sunlight/ heat on some jobs is horrible but after living on $500 a week for 5 years cashing paychecks $750-$1300 a week makes the heat and hard work TOTALLY worth it.

Also job placement, I never have to look for work! When I get laid off or let go from one job, I tell the union, and BAM, I usually have a new job with in three days. I don't do so well working on teams or groups, but solo or one on one, I am a F-ing rock star!

Support your local Union
Get a pension, vacation, retirement, labor representation, health benefits, and great pay!! !

No hope for a job. 22% of unemployment for youngs in France.

I agree with this.
I have yet to land a job after 1.5 years of applying (just graduated with my masters in IT management this summer).

I can get to the final round of interviewing, but not land the job.

So far this is what I have been told in rejections:

1) You do not have enough industry experience: I have three IT internships, various projects, An associates degree, double bachelors, and now my masters in IT management.

2)You are not perfect enough and we are holding out for the perfect candidate.

3) We want someone who will hit the ground running with minimal training (even General Motors IT told me this, when I interviewed with them).

4) You are too rigid and strict with your behavior during the interview...

5) You aren't strict enough with your behavior during the interview...

6) you are just off...

Funny enough I couldn't get any more internships after the summer of 2011 due to my "lack" of industry experience.
The previous dean of my school, who I knew, couldn't find internships for his program either.

Too bad I lack software development skill... I can see such things where being Aspie is useful. My skill is in mechanical things, like building, repairing, customizing guitars or other stringed instrument. I learned it pretty much on my own (and it seems like a lot of luthiers are probably aspies too). However the problem is I have NO idea how to find work.

I agree that GPA, being very prepared for an interview, showing enthusiasm, personality, and more can make a huge difference in determining which candidate to further advance in the interviewing process or to hire.

However, since when are "thank you notes" bogus? Since when can a t test measure the thankfulness of a person in sending a note to the interviewer, because the interviewer took time out of his/her busy schedule? That is one of the major problems in society anymore. People are not as thankful and grateful as they should be. We live in a society that has a "me-first" mentality and could care less to thank someone for their time. Yeah, it stinks when finding out a company hired another person for the position, when I thought I was the best candidate. But that is life. That does not excuse me for wanting to forego writing a "thank you note" after I interviewed with a company. If you interviewed me, I would you a note to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to interview me - regardless if you chose other candidates over me or not for the next round of interviews.

Statistics and probabilities can't replace proper manners I learned in thanking people for their time. Time is finite, and there's only so much time people have every day in their busy lives. People should send "thank you notes" regardless what any t test says. I have not come across a single person yet who refuses to be thanked for spending time with someone. I have thanked people countlessly for taking time out of their schedule - regardless if it was an informational interview, an actual interview, or simply just because someone wanted to help me. It's ingrained within me to always send a note. Yes, sending a note may not get a candidate to the next round of an interview. However on a couple of occasions, someone came up to me and said, "I ended up hiring someone else for the position, but you were the only candidate to send me a 'thank you note' and I thank you for doing so."

Folks, if you go to an interview, please send a "thank you note" to the interviewer either by email or snail mail and preferably on the same day of or the day after the interview. That person may not hire you or may not have you continue to the next round of interviews. However, you will stand out in that person's mind for sending that person a note. It could be the deciding factor between you and another candidate, in the eyes of the interviewer. If I am interviewing candidates for a position, the "thank you note" won't be the most important deciding factor. However, it could be the tiebreaker.

Thank you notes like so many things differ around the world, and American culture places most weight on it.
Here in the UK, most people wouldn't mind but its very very unusual. In fact it *could* even be seen as having a hidden meaning like "hurry up on getting back to me. This is a reminder" or the dreaded earnestness. Basically it could put an employer's back up.
Link on different cultures and interview thank you notes- http://career-advice.monster.com/job-in ... ticle.aspx

Sometimes I think bank robbery is the next thing, if u can't join them, rob them.

Although I have a propensity to catastrophise, I do now believe that I am reaching the stage where it would be almost impossible for an employer to hire me. And it only takes a quick glance into the mirror to ascertain where it is that the fault lies.

In December it will mark the five year anniversary of my last full-time position.

When one is 25 years old and still living with their parents it's hard not to feel a stupendously great amount of shame.

The thought of a prison cell grows more and more appealing to me every day. At least in such a place I would have orders to follow and a productive structure to most of my day; right now I am the embodiment of wretchedness.

1) Keep answers less than 2 minutes, and stay focused on the asked question
2) Do not mention anything person (you have kids, you are married, or neither)
3) Be comfortable with silence
4) Smile even if you have to practice in the mirror
5) Be prepared to answer the basic questions (practice at home in a mirror)
What is a project you have work on that you are proud of?
How do you react to stress?
Walk me through your resume

6) Don't touch your face, figit, adjust your clothes
7) When the look at their watch, take a call, check their phone then stop talking as soon as possible
Show up 10 minutes early (and people watch!)
9) Never argue, they are right you are wong. If you don't understand, ask for clarification once, no more.
10) You can send a thank you email, most people don't care. Older interviewers might appreciate it. If you do Feel free to use this:

Thank you for taking the time to talk with me about the [position]. I really enjoyed meeting you and found the position very interesting. I especially liked [1 thing that interviewer said].

Regards,

[name]
contact phone number

I feel that an air of superficiality is needed when going out for a job that you really want. It is quite easy, actually. Since it is difficult for me and for most autistics to think of responses on the spot- I usually write out all the questions that I think the interviewer will ask me beforehand and write responses to those questions that I think they would most like to hear. This way I have a script going and take the time to figure out what most NTs would consider a "proper and pleasing answer". That way I can never be flustered during an interview because I always have a response ready. I also tend to smile a lot and really listen to what they are saying and ask questions about the job when they ask if I have any questions. This (to them) shows initiative and that I am taking a real interest.

Tips for keeping a job? Do your work- stay quiet- arrive on time and leave on time. Get into a good routine in how you complete your work and don't let anyone steer you in another direction. By doing this and intentionally keeping my head down and not getting into office politics, I look like a diligent worker and am looked upon favorably by my boss. I have the tendency to get bored in all my positions after a few months, but then I realize that it is very difficult for me to get a job anyways, and truthfully, the uprooting of my routine would really kill me because, for me, routine is life.

I would add:
11) Speak clearly and not too fast if you talk with someone else. That is especially important if it is work related and therefore information that they must know, to do their work properly.

I think that the best way for us - freelance. You are communicating with your employer just via Skype or similar service.

No, freelance is the worst thing for anyone with asperger's. Just think about it, people with Asperger's need routine and normalcy, being freelance will destroy that. You also have to constantly upsell yourself because when you're freelance, there's no guarantee of continued employment or benefits.

Hmmm, there are quite a few translators with Asperger's Syndrome who are freelance. I don't think they are suffering as much as one thinks. Just my 2 cents.

Recently had a youngster (almost certainly aspie) join and quickly leave our engineering team so some more tips:
Your employer only values you for what you can do for them, they have no vested interest in keeping "you" employed over any other random off the street
Your employer will make accommodations that cost them money only if they value you enough to do so
Keep a very low profile during any probation period. Ask for nothing, practice good timekeeping, do not alienate your coworkers or manager
Feel a bit sorry for the guy as he was bright but not able to work with others. He also didn't see this coming as I don't think he understood what probation was or that he was still effectively being assessed.
If you're working a probation period, the interview isn't over