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slc94
Butterfly
Butterfly

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Joined: 28 Sep 2012
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Posts: 17

04 Oct 2012, 7:57 pm

I currently work at a grocery store as a cashier/bagger and have been working there for almost six months. After reading this, some of you may think that a cashier job is something that many aspies avoid like the plague. The back story: I was using money I had saved up from about a decade ago to pay for gas for my truck, and I went a good year with it. Eventually, it started to run dry, and I had no choice but to start applying for jobs. And then I looked at some of the "un-aspie" jobs and doubted my ability to do them. But I conceded and got a job at my local grocery store because a job like that was the easiest one to get.

Fast-forward six months:
My job is really starting to take a toll on me. I feel large amounts of stress and nervousness from rude, impatient, and taciturn customers, long lines, and busy crowds. That's mostly with cashiering. The mechanics of working the register aren't bad, but dealing with the many people who shop there is the really hard and annoying part. As far as bagging goes, it wouldn't be so bad if I could keep up with the cashier half the time (I'm a slow bagger). The best part of the job, which I didn't mention, is pushing carriages. That's my refuge when the store is busy, although I only push carts when I have a bagging shift.

Oh yeah, and the store I work at is in a city of over 100,000, so it can get crazy.

Enough about my rant, and now to what I'm getting to: I'm not going to just up and quit; I'm going to try to stick through it until I turn 18 (when my job options will be a bit more open) and then start looking for a different, more Aspie-friendly job. I figure if I can last this long, then staying another month or so will be easy.

Anyway, do you forum users know of any jobs that can be obtained at 18 that are suitable for an Aspie? Cart-pusher is the only one I can think of, but I don't know of anything else. Any input is appreciated.

Thank you!



justanothergal
Tufted Titmouse
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Joined: 27 Nov 2009
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Posts: 34

05 Oct 2012, 2:39 am

Maybe apply for other roles within a grocery store environment that are not as social:

1. Become a cart pusher only if possible. I'm sure there's grocery stores that have workers that only do this position.

2. Become a stocker. You still deal with customers, but not as often and get some breathing room between them to do your job.

3. Go on night crew at a grocery store. Your past experience will be looked upon favourably and you won't have to deal with any customers!



LikeAChick
Butterfly
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Joined: 4 Oct 2012
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Posts: 14

05 Oct 2012, 7:35 pm

Have you considered jobs such as being a city bus driver or cab driver? The bus drivers in my city get paid a lot and it seems that all you have to do is have a special driver's license, be comfortable with answering some questions from passengers and be familiar with routes.

Just curious how does your co-workers deal with rude customers and long lines? Since I may need to work in grocery store someday.



Last edited by LikeAChick on 05 Oct 2012, 9:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

slc94
Butterfly
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Joined: 28 Sep 2012
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Posts: 17

05 Oct 2012, 7:55 pm

They just deal with it and do their jobs, but I get overwhelmed with all that happening. Although today (10/5), I had a notably good day on one of the busiest days of the month (the day that food stamps come out). The customers were nice for the most part, although there were a few crabby ones; I was able to do the jobs (cashiering, bagging, cart-pushing) well and with a very good demeanor (I also helped a woman who had two full carts of groceries out to her car). To make the day even better, my boss told me that I was doing a really good job today. I dunno, I guess I just had a really good day today.