Employed or unemployed? (ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH ASPERGERS)

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Tim_Tex
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30 Mar 2008, 4:10 pm

I'm a full-time college student.


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computerlove
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30 Mar 2008, 4:11 pm

pat666rick wrote:
I have a question for you guys. I'm sick of being in the awkward situation where I am around a bunch of strangers and I am asked what I do for a living. I always wait in terror to be asked this question and I really hate it because I know how most of society views unemployed people. It really bothers me how most people in society figure that if someone is unemployed, they are lazy. Sometimes if I'm not around friends or family while I am around strangers I will make up a white lie and tell people that I'm a computer technician or of some other profession. Anybody out there have tips? Would I be best to make up a lie rather than be humiliated? BTW, I have tried a couple jobs in the past few years but I just couldn't cope with them due to extreme anxiety while around other people so getting a job to avoid this situation isn't really an option at the moment.



Lie.

It's called "white lies", so it's okay to lie. That way, you won't be in an awkward situation of whatever. Good luck man.


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Last edited by computerlove on 30 Mar 2008, 5:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

sartresue
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30 Mar 2008, 4:27 pm

All work and no ploy topic

I work part time. :x I wish it was full time. I also collect unemployment benefits, as I make less than 100 dollars per week and i have 2 children still at home.


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Tim_Tex
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30 Mar 2008, 4:29 pm

Unemployed means not having a job, but actively seeking for work.

Students and retired people do not officially count as unemployed.


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Jamie06
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30 Mar 2008, 4:32 pm

Employed full time - warehouse assistant.



Fogman
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30 Mar 2008, 5:04 pm

I am unofficially diagnosed (Self, after a LOT of research) and I am currently unemployed, though I am usually employed.


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RainSong
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30 Mar 2008, 5:13 pm

pat666rick wrote:
Wow, this is insane! I was expecting only 7 percent of you or so to be employed and the rest to be unemployed. Last month I came across some figure on the internet saying that something like only 7% of people with aspergers are employed. Is this a faulty figure or would you say it's accurate? From what you guys are saying it's more like 75% of you are employed while 25% or so are unemployed.


I think that something to remember here is that a lot of people on this site are more high functioning than not, so the data is going to be a bit skewed. And also, the Internet/computers cost money, so it's going to require extra spending money to be able to afford to get on this site, something which perhaps someone without a job couldn't do, if he/she was independent in a living situation (ie, lives on their own). The library, at least around here, has free internet service and computers for an hour, but if the person is too overwhelmed to go there, that won't do much.

I'm employed at my father's business. I tried for awhile to get a job elsewhere, but that didn't go well (I'm bad with interviews, and too late with the application for the one that said she would have hired me).


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computerlove
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30 Mar 2008, 5:22 pm

tybald wrote:
Currently studying and employed to pay the bills while I do so. I need to work or have something to occupy my time or I get really depressed.

couldn't have said it bettah. That's why I mentioned in a previous post that I hated vacations :P


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30 Mar 2008, 5:59 pm

I think aspies change or quit jobs more, I have been back to school for different careers, from bartending, retail meat cutting, computer network administration, and finally truck driver, in between I have been employed as warehouse worker, vending driver, courier, cook, hotel desk clerk, forestry fire fighter, help desk technical support agent for Hp. If you think your unemployable, take a course, but find something your really going to commit to, I wasted a few years in an unsatisfying job, over picking a job I thought would be great, (Bar Tending) or Computer network admin) big waste of time.



englishwolf
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30 Mar 2008, 6:23 pm

Employed part time (very low hours).
Had a couple of gaps of unemployment since leaving school, one for almost a year (though part of that was due to having my leg in plaster). Every job I have had has either been very low pay or stupid hours, or sometimes both. I have only had one job that could ever be classified as permanent and full time but that didn't last very long. I find work difficult and have made way too many stupid mistakes that have caused problems for customers and for myself (including technically getting fired from my last job) and as such I am nervous abgout getting another job. I'll find my employment feet fully one day, hopefully sooner rather than later.


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Fogman
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30 Mar 2008, 6:35 pm

spudnik wrote:
I think aspies change or quit jobs more, I have been back to school for different careers, from bartending, retail meat cutting, computer network administration, and finally truck driver, in between I have been employed as warehouse worker, vending driver, courier, cook, hotel desk clerk, forestry fire fighter, help desk technical support agent for Hp.


I refer to this type of person as the 'Lateral Career Path Generalist' method. I am one myself. I have done warehouse work, Construction, Helpdesk, wholesale meat cutting, worked as a machinist, and convenience store clerk, and as a high end restaurant cook.

Normal people seem to follow a vertical career path and get advanced. I,OTOH focus strictly on getting the job at hand done, completely oblivious and confused by workplace politics, and as a result I don't advance, and get completely jaded by my work environment. -- I am only able to figure out the workplace politics after the damage is done.
Is this familiar?


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30 Mar 2008, 7:04 pm

pat666rick wrote:
I have a question for you guys. I'm sick of being in the awkward situation where I am around a bunch of strangers and I am asked what I do for a living. I always wait in terror to be asked this question and I really hate it because I know how most of society views unemployed people. It really bothers me how most people in society figure that if someone is unemployed, they are lazy. Sometimes if I'm not around friends or family while I am around strangers I will make up a white lie and tell people that I'm a computer technician or of some other profession. Anybody out there have tips? Would I be best to make up a lie rather than be humiliated? BTW, I have tried a couple jobs in the past few years but I just couldn't cope with them due to extreme anxiety while around other people so getting a job to avoid this situation isn't really an option at the moment.


I just tell people that I am unemployed. Since I am happy not to be working, I am very affirmative and self assured when I say it. People tend not to care about what you actually say you do and focus on how you say it. And if I am happy with it there is no reason for them to feel uncomfortable with my situation.

The main thing is not how others perceive you but how you perceive yourself. If having a job is such an important part of your identity, then not having one would make you a miserable piece of wet napkin. Who would feel comfortable around someone like that?

I left very stressful jobs at the age of 30 and have not worked for 5 years. It has been an important 5 years as during this time I learned how to listen to myself and feel my own rhythms. In the unpleasant but necessary business of managing meltdowns, knowing what to do and what not to do is essential. While working there was never any time to deal with these random self created crises. Instead I would try to ignore as much as I could leading to endless cycles of auto-destruction and picking up the pieces.

Financially it is a stretch but I have never been enamored with the trappings of wealth. Life as an investment banker in New York taught me that money does not really make people happy; especially if you have to give up the things you cherish the most to attain that wealth. Living a clean, simple ascetic existence can be far more liberating and fulfilling than a life spent in the grease and muck of the money pit. But I do worry about making ends meet. And if I can solve that problem via my own personal investments, even without a job, I would be living a life I want. What more can any man ask for?



Zeno
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30 Mar 2008, 7:17 pm

Fogman wrote:
I refer to this type of person as the 'Lateral Career Path Generalist' method. I am one myself. I have done warehouse work, Construction, Helpdesk, wholesale meat cutting, worked as a machinist, and convenience store clerk, and as a high end restaurant cook.

Normal people seem to follow a vertical career path and get advanced. I,OTOH focus strictly on getting the job at hand done, completely oblivious and confused by workplace politics, and as a result I don't advance, and get completely jaded by my work environment. -- I am only able to figure out the workplace politics after the damage is done.
Is this familiar?


I did that from one termination to another. Getting ahead is not just about doing your job well, it requires Machiavellic instintics. People who do their jobs well are workers and will be used as such. While those who know how to manipulate their bosses and co-workers will end up ahead. At least that is how things are in the rarefied world of finance and consulting.

Not having much skill handling interpersonal politics means that a corporate environment is out of the question for me. I am best doing my own things and I spend my days doing equity research into Chinese companies. All you need is a computer, an internet connection and off you go. Even though I have been unemployed for the last 5 years, my self assigned project has allowed me to learn a great deal. And it is great because I absolutely do not have to interact with people if I do not want to.



joefish
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30 Mar 2008, 7:19 pm

Employed - 4 jobs , Run my own lighting company, Work for a dj/Disco shop as lighting engineer, work in a nite club(bar staff, cloakroom, DJ, Sound/Lighting Set up ) and im a Roadie/Dj, For GMC Events. im rollin in it. most imprtantly i love my jobs



Fogman
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30 Mar 2008, 7:57 pm

Zeno wrote:
People who do their jobs well are workers and will be used as such. While those who know how to manipulate their bosses and co-workers will end up ahead. At least that is how things are in the rarefied world of finance and consulting.


This is a global constant in any any career path. I walked from my ast job at a warehouse because my supervisors were almost invariably always in the front office chatting up the management, whilst I was doing not only my work, but their work as well. :evil:


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computerlove
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30 Mar 2008, 8:01 pm

joefish wrote:
Employed - 4 jobs , Run my own lighting company, Work for a dj/Disco shop as lighting engineer, work in a nite club(bar staff, cloakroom, DJ, Sound/Lighting Set up ) and im a Roadie/Dj, For GMC Events. im rollin in it. most imprtantly i love my jobs


hEY, THAT'S VERY COOL!

OOPPS i HAVE CAPSLOCK ON :p

How did you got your job in that?

BTW, welcome to the forum :)


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