I cannot see myself working ever (long post)

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I've been on JSA (jobseekers allowance) for over 4 years now, and I have gotten nowhere. I've applied for countless jobs, I have a well updated CV, and I've done other things in this time like voluntary work and tried out different courses to improve my basic skills, so it's not like I've done nothing to build skills and confidence all this time.

I also have more help from the jobcentre because I have a disability, and there is a team that helps me out with looking for work, including improving interview skills, but I've been to so many interviews that I'm starting to think I will become an expert with interviews soon.

I know the financial climate is very hard mostly for any young people aged 18-25, but most people of my age haven't been unemployed for this long unless they haven't been trying, in which case I can't say that I haven't been trying because I really have. So I'm starting to think my disability decreases my chances of getting into work.

I have been given a trial last week for a part time cleaning job, and the man seemed very enthusiastic with me, and has offered to help by negociating my contract, and he has employed another person with a disability. Also I was the only one going for this job, and he knew my disability employment advisor, so this job sounded very promising and he was willing to take me on. But now I haven't heard from him all week, and he said he definately will be in touch, so now I'm starting to think I wasn't suitable, although personally I think I did rather well on my induction, and I picked up the new information rather well. Also nobody should expect me to be brilliant on my first time, because everybody's got to learn.

So now I'm starting to think I don't have any hope and if I don't stand a chance getting this job, then I won't ever stand a chance getting other jobs where there are other people going for it. And I'm finding the jobcentre has gotten too scrict so now I'm under more pressure, and my disability employment advisor isn't avaliable half the time, so each time I go to sign on I have to see others there who aren't quite aware of my condition, and just make me apply for jobs that make me anxious.

I want to come off jobseekers allowance and just look for work on my own, also support from the disability employment help team who are more supportive and don't work with the jobcentre, but then I won't have anything to live on, and I don't want to expect my parents to keep me. I have tried ESA (employment and support allowance) but apparently that's now tough to claim, and they won't let me claim this because I'm ''too able''. I just don't know what way to turn. I know the right job will come along soon, but I'm bored with that usual cliche and I really want to sort things out now. It's already been 4 long years, the economy is getting worse, and I don't think I will ever get into work.

Stay on the allowance as long as you're qualified for it. You're not abusing it if you are trying--society is abusing you, and it is society's responsibility to support you when you aren't given the opportunity to support yourself. I wish the U.S. would recognize that responsibility, though.
There are more than 7 billion people on this planet, and there quite simply is not a job for everyone. Using a calculated estimate of how much money is in the world based on GDP, around $70 trillion, there is less than $10K available for each of us--total, not yearly, but over our entire lifetimes.

There is a large number of people with some sort of a disability, to neglect them would be to waste a lot of human resources. In my opinion people with disabilities can even outdo regular people in the workplace, due to a strong work ethic and the determination to challenge themselves.

Definitely agree with this. That's why you (Joe) should keep trying and don't feel guilty about taking government money in the interim. That's why that money is there, and it should be there. If people like you who deserve to use those funds don't use them, then the only people left using those funds will be abusers who don't need them but are taking advantage of the situation.

While I might not agree 100% that it's societies job to support you, it is better to help someone who is trying than to let them crash or waste money on people who dont' want to help themselves.

Keep trying and good luck.

Joe,

Have you given any thought to what you would like to do as a career?
Right now these are initial jobs, but they are just jobs, they are not a career necessarily - so for that reason I would encourage you to keep things in perspective.

Have you considered attending university?
Many of the jobs which are less people oriented in nature and more analytical require a degree.
If the UK is anything like here, then there is an allowance that students get that enable them to live off while they are studying.

I have trouble holding down a job. I haven't worked in months. And my previous job only lasted a short while before I got fired.

My longest full time job lasted only seven months.

Can't get a job, always broke, can't get a girlfriend, either. In short, I'm screwed.

I got fired twice, but now managed to hold down a job for two years and would put up a big fight this time if they try to get me fired again for some lame reason. Maybe Im just lucky though.

I was going to suggest this too.

Kjas, in the UK the fees for students going to uni have just gone up to insane levels. There is disabled student allowance, but it doesn't pay maintenance or support living costs. It pays for equipment during your studies, and you have to be assessed for it (I just had this last year so I know that's still current). You can get a student loan if you have never been to uni before, but that requires paying back when you earn over 15k a year.

There is a very low expectation on people with autism and careers, and they get pushed towards jobs they're not necessarily suited for. In my experience, people with AS are often more theoretical than practical. I certainly found practical tasks more difficult than theoretical ones when I was working, and the place I feel most at home is/was university.

I have only just finished my studies, and this is gonna be my first time applying for jobs with my disability declared, as I was diagnosed whilst already working at my old job. It never made a difference there, but I guess we'll see if it does here.

The thing is, Joe, that employers are often not just looking for disability or ability, but experience, skills and qualifications. If you aren't happy going to uni, or you've done it and it hasn't worked out/you don't think it's helping, I wonder whether there's anything a local technical college (if you're on JSA the course should be free) can offer you in terms of practical vocational courses...?

You just have to keep at it and don't give up. One thing I'd recommend though, is that if you've been out of work for this long then something you are doing isn't working, so try something new. I was having a rough time in the job market for a while, so I changed up my strategy. Rather than applying online, I started going to various career fairs in the area, which got me infinitely more interviews. I also looked at what sort of qualifications most people who were applying to the same jobs had, and attempted to get even more qualifications than they had, so I'd have something to set me apart. Perhaps start looking into fields that you previously wouldn't have considered. Certain fields are much more difficult to get into than others. One that's always good to go in to is medical; for many positions like ultrasound tech. you can do 2 years of training then start out making a pretty hefty salary. Always in demand too!

Thanks for all your replies. It is a big worry for me, since it's been going on for too long and I am getting sick and tired of being on benefits. I feel like I'm being watched, they want to know exactly what you're doing, how much money you've got in your bank with proof, and you can't even take a break from it (even if I go on holiday I've still got to look for work). It is all so stressful, and seeing other people getting jobs around me just makes me feel so useless.

I don't think much to university, I think that's a bit advanced for me and it seems scary, plus I'm not near any universities and I'd hate to stay over night in dorms with other youngsters because that is just not for me. I did go to college and studied a few different things but I never got a job after it. I have done courses whilst being on JSA (what the jobcentre have sent me on) and they are all down on my CV, but no matter how good my CV is, it still hasn't resulted in me getting a job. It seems employers are just looking out for those with good social skills and that's it, although they can't tell my personality just by looking at my CV.

Sometimes I reckon I've just got the wrong face or the wrong name. I know someone who gets every job she comes across, and she's no different to me except she's NT. It seems some people get all the luck and others don't. Also, it's not what you know it's who you know these days, and there aren't many people around that I know who are in a position where they can give me a job, where as these popular young girls tend to get in places with their mates. But those sorts of places are jobs like bar work and retail fashion stores, and neither of those are me.

I would love to be a bus-driver....but I can't afford a car at the moment, and I'm assuming they will want someone who is experienced with driving before they can even train them or take any tests, and I get ever so nervous on the roads anyway, so I doubt I'd be able to handle driving a big vehicle with the responsibility of passengers.

It's like I've got all my weaknesses, barriers and limits written all over my face, so employers just know them all just by taking one glance at me. I just wish somebody would give me a chance and see what I can really do.

A CV has to have focus. A lot of random courses listed on a CV might be sending the message that you are erratic and you might leave quickly. Focus your CV on what the employer is looking for.

And don't' discount any job. Your dream job might not be the first one you get.

Some NTs struggle with social skills too. If this is your weakness then it should be your priority to improve on. Your strength is probably analytical skills and attention to details, so you should aim for a job that emphasizes this, eg. Tech support, data entry or editing.

Yes to be a bus driver you need to have driving experience, and you will need to have a car and maybe start on a delivery job, although it may be hectic.

I saw someone else here post that they got their job just by asking the employer to give them a chance at an interview. You can try different approaches if the one you are using doesn`t work, it will distinguish you from the competition.

Well it's so hard to get a CV that perfect. And another thing that worries me is if I started somewhere then they suddenly started laying people off or the business closed down, and I'd be back to square 1 again. Because of my high anxiety disorder and I'm prone to stress, it will probably knock me back further than it would the average person, and I'll feel like giving up in the end.

It's like there's no way out. I have tried everything, I've had my CV changed or had different ideas for my CV by different people (from jobcentre places), and none are good enough. It's like you can't be too this or too that, you've just got to be in this exact right position....and sadly I'm not very good at that. Plus this anxiety thing does get in my way too, even if I went on meds I don't think it'd help much because anxiety is mixed in with my personality. I know being a bus-driver can be a stressful job, but it's something I want to do because I like buses.

I wouldn't mind working with small children at a nursery, but, I know this sounds ridiculous, I fear being sick, and small children get a lot of tummy bugs, and once one child has been sick, there is then a bug going around the whole place, and in some places you're cooped up inside with the children and it's easier to pick up bugs more than anywhere else, other than some wards in hospitals. I have heard of a nursery they had to close last winter because there was a strong norovirus going around among the children, and even teachers with healthy immune systems had picked it up. I know people criticise me that I shouldn't let my fears take over my life but don't forget I do have Asperger's Syndrome and it can mean things like that can be big to me and cause me to have panic attacks. In fact I know a few NTs who fear vomiting so much that they avoid places like hospitals and schools. I really wish there was a special injection adults can have to stop them catching tummy bugs.