Can you still blame AS for being unemployed/underemployed if

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...you aren't even getting interviews?

The stage of the job application process that would most harm an AS is the interview, since it requires you to maintain eye contact, use proper inflection, say the appropriate things at the appropriate times, and think quickly on your feet-all challenges for someone with AS.

However, if you're not even getting interviews, blaming AS becomes a less plausible argument. I've beefed up my resume and taken advice from several job-seeking professionals, but it just doesn't seem to do any good. I've had seven interviews since I finished graduate school in December and all were for jobs that would've been beneath my education level in any case.

Before any says, you need to volunteer in the meantime, I DO THAT. And before anyone says I need work experience to go with my college education, I have that too.

It still does. A big part of getting interviews is networking. If you have trouble maintaining relationships and keeping a network, that hurts you long before interviews.

There have been studies on this. Networking skills are far more valuable than qualifications. Especially in a bad economy.

As an aspie, I never had problems finding a job until now. For me the economic crisis is the main factor now. Getting the first real job is not easy for anyone also.

Nevertheless, I have been serially fired over disagreements or misunderstandings. I never regretted the job I lost but I know some employers did regret me. The two jobs I was not fired for these reasons, I think I was working with people who were more open and it did have an impact on my daily behavior.

Note: nobody needs to maintain eye contact, you can look in the distance and behave in a way that suggest you are thinking deeply or listening carefully trying to imagine in depth what is said, just stare at important moments and when you conclude what you say. Otherwise the forced staring will look unnatural therefore creepy

The thing is I actually have been networking..of course, just because I'm doing it doesn't mean I'm actually good at it lol. I do have some trouble following up with people.

If you lack work experience, I blame it on that than on the AS because most places want to hire people who have experience. It's easier for them and people who have the experience are easier to train.

If you don't have a high school diploma or a GED, that also makes it harder for you to get a job.

I found that you either have to be really good at networking, or it won't be your path to success. I was layed off last year and had to start from scratch. I joined a group that was specifically made of people in my situation to work together and improve networking skills. It was a disaster. Nobody had any leads that 50 other people didn't already know about. It was just a bunch of clueless people fishing for leads. Anyone that really knew how to network already had a job, so it was the blind leading the blind.

I did know of a guy who did it well. He was fired for being a slacker and spent most of his day socializing instead. However, he was so well connected, that he heard about everything first-hand and got a job within a month.

I think networking is useful only if you're recieving first-hand information. If it trickles down too far, it's likely someone else got in before you.

From what I've been reading, you may have a problem you never thought you'd have. You said so yourself, you're even applying BENEATH your education level. Businesses are using this rash rationality that hiring someone for a job thats "beneath them" will lead them to be less productive or progressive in the company. That they may ask for more money for something someone of lower qualifications will do for less. Its a generalization of course, but its really grabbing a foothold in this economy...

Also, You may now be in a field where they expect you to take on extra responsibilities you werent trained. People are needing to get extra certifications for jobs they've done more than 20 years, just to get the same or a lower job again... I dont know what field you're trained in, but a job counselor might be able to tell you if there's something else you can do with your resume and interviewing. Otherwise, just keep trying, the one who keeps knocking on doors will get one to answer....

I say yes.

Social interaction affects the hiring process in the following ways.

1. Most prominently - the interview and follow up contact.

2. More subtlety - networking with peers to find job leads and getting contacts who can see that your resume gets to the right people who do the hiring.

Granted, we are in a bad job market and that makes it harder for everyone to even get an interview, but you can rest assured that NTs who will join civic groups and other social circles to meet people who could help them get into a good job still do better than those who don't...or have difficulty doing so.

I mostly blame it on everyone else.

Yes.

Or rather, I blame insecure NT's who becomes nervous around those who are a little different. I'm sure most of you know what I'm talking about.

The one advantaged afforded to me is that my field requires a high degree of training.

I blame it on society being too safe and well established. It's set up like a pyramid scheme where charismatic morons can thrive on the backs of the quiet, hard-working majority. We need more pressure to survive, and the recession is a good thing in that respect. I've survived a few cuts where they had to decide who was really needed and who was simply pleasant to have around, but not as useful.

Poor networking skills can be very problematic. Another potential problem for Aspies is that many of us are very strict about honesty, so we are less likely to lie or exaggerate on our CVs. This hurts us immensely, as lying and exaggerating are so common as to be the norm (I have discussed this with many people and feel pretty confident making such an assertion). People expect that every CV has been "beefed up," so they assume you have less experience or are less qualified than you say you are.