what carreer should an aspie choose?

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I just want to say that I was not trying to be an extremist, saying only this one carreer is good. I meant to generalize it more but i always end up with a long post. What I meant is that there are really carreer options that are not for aspies, and still you might want one of those options. For example, there might be aspie actors, but for most of us that is not a realistic option. My objective is to make younger people aware of this fact, imo it is real, we really can't apply to any carreer.
Odin put another good example of a carreer that fits aspergers well:

Have you tried doing some of those online personality/job matching quizzes? Some are quite good. The better ones tend to pick on whether you like/dislike working with others and where your skills and interests are. While they don't specifically ask about Aspergers they pick up the personality slant that this may give you.

I'm a software developer and a keen gardener and have an interest in metaphysics and after doing one long test it came up with three options: Software developer (ok I'm that already) a farmer or a priest! So it picked up my interest and ability areas I forget the particular site - try Googling.

I'm not sure that the term career in the traditional sense may not be obsolete in today's world. No matter how secure and stable any job may appear right now, there's not a single one that can't be made useless and unnecessary literally overnight by the right new technology.

I had two passions, social work and writing (and editing). I chose the latter. Now was that smart? No. I love writing but the stress and the fact I was told what to write about made it difficult. In order to be an editor, you have to do the reporting thing (at least in the field I pursued, journalism). I was a reporter for seven months and it was HARD. I don't even know how I did it, looking back. But now I am a case manager for people with disabilties (a day program) and I love it.

Well I emailed the university asking for the reason my application was unsuccessful, as was completely gobsmacked when they said I didn't have enough A-Level points, and they started asking me to confirm my grades for the last course I took (in '99). In their own literature they say that Mature students dont need to have enough points if they can prove that they are skilled and motivated enough to get through the course. Before applying, I asked if my poor performance in education pre-diagnosis would count against me, the faculty's administrator told me my personal circumstances would be taken into consideration.

Given that they completely overlooked my status as a mature student, and were only going on exam results, they've made themselves look like a right bunch of muppets (No offense to the real muppets, I just wouldn't fancy ones like Animal, Dr Bunsen, the Sweish Chef or the one who throws fish handling my Uni application).

I think they finally realised, that by asking for exam results that were biased due to an undiagnosed learning difficulty, they were discriminating against someone with a disability, so hopefully they'll be making a bit more of an effort to read what's on the application form ,and give me the interview they should have months ago.



I've managed to control my depression by keeping busy and limiting the time I spend socialising, as too much of that seems to be the worst thing for me, followed by being alone for too long without something productive to do. The news only got me down for a day or so, then I started focussing on the good points of not being able to go (there's still a few, althouh my long term prospects aren't so good). I find managing depression is all about what you focus on, and getting a feeling of satisfaction that you're doing something productive. I should be getting CBT soom that should help some more too.

Right now University is probably the best place for me, as I can socialise more than here, if I want to, but will really be focussing on studying. I've been to Uni twice (before diagnosis, so I didn't complete it), so I know what the workload is like, and the level of study (in fact I specifically looked for one that had a more advanced syllabus in the first year, to make sure the work will be more stimulating). I won't be distracted by the social life this time, like most of the first years will be.

Anything that can be done as a consultant or contractor: Taking a couple of months off every year makes a big difference on your outlook.

What about upgrade courses? If you can afford full-time university, then you can likely afford to take a couple semesters of upgrade courses... or, go to community college first. If you can succeed there, then uni. is just one step beyond, and you will be able to argue that with the admissions department.

And, I work in a school library and also catalogue books. I trained as a library technician, and took almost all my courses by distance ed. I'm good with kids and I have an encyclopedic brain (and a B.A. in Classical Studies). It's a very good fit. I just mostly avoid the other teachers (:

• Engineering
• Architecture
• Mathematics
• Computer science
• The physical sciences
• Linguist
• Academia
• Mechanics
• Technicianship
• Librarian (information science)
• Technical writing
• Creative writing
• Beekeeping
• Zoology
• Entomology

There's a lot of sense in that! Time to pursue your real interests and reduce your stress level.

I'd just like to add, as a software developer myself, that while still a good choice for someone with AS, I suspect that the suitability is slowly declining.

In my first software job, 20 years ago, my interview consisted of a 1 hour technical test followed by a 5 minute chat! Out of maybe 10 applicants, I got by far the best technical result and hence the job. Making eye contact was not a requirement. Technical ability was paramount. The social skills level was basically if you weren't a dangerous psycho and weren't bothering anyone else, you were fine.

Since then, I've noticed a steady decline in the importance of technical skills and focus is now on being the proverbial "team player". Back then, coding was considered a good skill worth rewarding, in many companies now it's considered 'clerical' and is outsourced to the cheapest bidder. Salaries are still a good bit higher than average, admittedly, but they're declining in real terms. The money now goes to the managers, business analysts, basically those whose main job is to communicate.

I'm not saying an Aspie shouldn't go into software, but that he/she should be really careful where they choose to work. Read Dilbert - this is real life in far too many dysfunctional corps! Of course there are still some exciting companies to work for, companies that still respect the act of writing software - look at Fog Creek for example. I just think these companies are rather few and can pick and choose the top 2% or whatever.

I agree. I've been a software developer for over 20 years and the development climate has changed enormously since I started out. In the good old days one got into a company as a trainee programmer or in the operations department, then moving up the scale through to project leader and possibly even IT director for those holding college degrees.

However, nowadays few companies have a budget for training so expect to employ fully experienced and qualified programmers. These are often treated as commodities for specific projects and hired accordingly. There is also a lot of outsourcing to places such as India, so getting into IT in Western Europe and America is no longer the secure job with good prospects it once was. It is noticeable now that there is a shortage of students doing degree level computing due to the poor job prospects. Outsourcing is killing the West's IT industry as it has done manufacturing and other jobs.

There is also a movement towards team-players who can multi-task and have good business and interpersonal skills. There is less desirability for the skilled techy guy who sits in a cubicle and has little contact with anyone, but who churns out excellent code.

You're on the right track. If you're a contractor, there's more of a mindset of get the thing working and get out. Also as a contractor, you get the work done while everyone else is busy being a team player (snarkiness intended). If you do get converted to a full time employee, you can let it be made known to your supervisor that you have a disability that prevents you from following the sequence of a conversation, preferably by sending an email. Most likely it won't be further questioned, because it becomes an "HR issue", which managers try hard to avoid.

I tend to get my instructions in an email as an accommodation. Not only does that allow me to read it four or five times if necessary, it cuts down on the burden of making "proper" social contact.

I agree. We are all so different. I think the more we know our strengths and weaknesses, the better we will do at finding the right job fit. But still you never know. I found a job that, according to the job description, was perfect, yet the work culture was horrible. For instance, the manager expected her staff to eat at the same table for lunch every day. Yikes!! !! There was no way I could spend my one break per day hanging out with my fellow staff. They also made a big deal about letting everybody know where you were at every second. As a hyper-conscious aspie who is completely unable to lie and works far more than my timesheet shows, to be watched every minute and have time deducted from my timesheet because the office spy didn't "see" me in the office, was horrible. I need my boss to trust that I'm doing the work and working the hours. Moral: your boss and the office "culture" can make or break your job.

BTW I'm looking for work success stories, to help apsies who haven't yet found the "right" job. Please email me at [email protected]

Exactly my point for this post beckula, I just couldn't realize that was what I wanted to get across until I read your post. People don't realize that work is work, no matter what you're doing. Say for example you love videogames, and think that playing videogames all day would be the ultimate job. You get your dream job, and you play videogames all day, and write reviews etc. And suddenly, to your amazement, sooner than later you feel like you don't want to play all day.

That's the essence of work. Everything becomes work when you are forced to do it for an scheduled lapse of time. It was recreation before because you chose when to do it and for how long, but when they MAKE you do it, everything changes.

All your life they sell you the idea that work shouln't feel like work. Greatest farce of all time..

Manerg,

You are wrong about ONE thing! You say "Read Dilbert - this is real life in far too many dysfunctional corps!". That implies that there are a fair number of "functional" ones. I have been to DOZENS of companies. SOME were multinational companies around for well over 100 years. Yet I would say ALL have WAY too many problems! Unfortunately, I would say you are right more than you know.