what kind of problems did you have in the workplace?

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I'm exactly like that. I'm actually a supervisor, but I'm far from bossy and if I try to show my authority for the sake of getting things done, I feel so nervous and tense that I can't speak properly, which makes me look angry. Although I have never actually been fired from any job, I'm always worried about it.

Ah, yes. Being occasionally put in a supervising position is very uncomfortable for me. I'm terrified of conflict just in general. When in supervisor type position i have noticed that i frequently use non-committal language to issue work instructions to employees i am in charge of. A lot of "if you have time," "maybe you should..."

I couldn't handle being in charge. I don't like to be bossy either and I actually like when people say a command like how you do. I know it really means to just do it, but it isn't as abrasive as yelling at someone telling them to do this, do that. There are some things I need very direct commands to follow.

I have noted some experiences here:
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt225211.html

I currently have problems multi tasking, getting interrupted while I'm concentrating on something, and having to change what I'm doing mid-stream. I'm not a good team player. I don't like it when other people make mistakes or cheat.

I'll make a wild guess... Did you list education on your job app as only high school graduation?

I ask because most college graduates I know have a devil of a time trying to get a job offer for even one labor or customer service position, let alone for two dozen jobs. The sentiment seems to be, "That person is an idiot for being unable to get a job in his or her field of study, so don't hire that applicant."

Never had any major problems in the work place to be honest, I am fortunate that I have had a fairly successful career (though right now my employer is screwing me over and I am looking for a new job)

I suffer with noise filtering a lot so have had issues there, was joked about as 'the deaf guy' in one old job. I just play up to it a bit and say I am hard of hearing.

Also struggle a bit with instructions. Unless something is written down and I can go through it all and my brain has time to take it in and compute it then I won't get it. Everyone else cracks on with the job in hand and I am left standing there like 'what the f is everyone doing?......'

I didn't know it at the time, but in retrospect...yeah. I've had lots of problems with jobs because of my "traits".

I've been fired seven times, and for the most part, for similar reasons.
* I have problems with getting distracted,
* getting my flow interrupted, and
* not being able to get back to what I was doing.
* I get in trouble quite a bit for not following directions and
* asking questions that I had already asked but had forgotten the answer to.
* I'm terrible at multitasking.
* I'm not AT ALL a team player. I work MUCH better alone.
* I'm not a socializer, which is for all intents and purposes required in most corporate settings. Why should I have to attend Christmas parties, off site team-building sessions and happy hours, spending my off-time with a bunch of people I've already spent 40 hours every week with?

I don't know if these are AS or just human, but the following have also been issues --
* If a boss tells me to do something and I think it's stupid I just won't do it.
* I have time management problems. I start projects with all kinds of promise, but I always end up missing deadlines because the job took longer than I thought.
* My sense of prioritizing is always different from my boss'. So I'm always donig things I find important, but the boss doesn't.
* I'm NOT a morning person, so I produce little in the a.m., and although I can put out quite a bit of work from 3-5pm, it doesn't make up for the previous 6 hours.

Lost two jobs probably because of ASD. One because of the fact that I am very logical, and follow rules probably to the point of being inflexible. After working for them for six years there was an issue that my mouth got the best of me, and was sent packing. Then again best thing that ever happened because it allowed me to get back to working on computers. The other most likely for not being a "team player" even though I was the only member of the "team". Go figure. I come to find out later that they had to hire three people to cover all the work I did. Then again another instance of giving me an opportunity to move further in life.

Luckily my current employer (of 12+ years) likes the fact I do march to a different drummer, and can think out of the box despite having some quirks. I have proved to them that I am very dependable, and in times of crisis can be levelheaded enough to see the light of day as well as being consistent. Fortunately my manager can recognize loyalty, and talent since I was recently promoted to being a Team Leader of 4 other Engineers. After a couple of major stumbles (and a meltdown or two) we did have a sit down, and I copped to the fact I have ASD (he actually suspected it). Now that he knows he is also willing to help as well as mentor me! He sees that I do have the potential of moving up into management, and is willing to cultivate that potential. Now I hope I can hold it all together.

I've never lost a job, but have often been socially ostracized for being different/annoying. I tend to ask a lot of questions necause instructions that should be clear are not for me. I also make a lot of embarrassing mistakes for the same reason. But they keep me around because I'm nice to everyone, work hard, and learn fast once my initial confusion is addressed. The social problems occur later on and lead to bullying and hate-filled rumors and stuff like that. The emotional torture of working is sometimes at levels that make me consider leaving to live in poverty. It often feels its an inevitable end result.

I've never lost a job, but have often been socially ostracized for being different/annoying. I tend to ask a lot of questions because instructions that should be clear are not for me. I also make a lot of embarrassing mistakes for the same reason. But they keep me around because I'm nice to everyone, work hard, and learn fast once my initial confusion is addressed. The social problems occur later on and lead to bullying and hate-filled rumors and stuff like that. The emotional torture of working is sometimes at levels that make me consider leaving to live in poverty. It often feels its an inevitable end result.

Lost a job? No

Had to quit a job before losing it because of stated reason? Yes.

I always had to set everything up in a certain way in my workspace before I started, and had to maintain it in a certain order during work. Even had to stay after work and set things up for the next person the same way i had to have things for myself.

^This and having trouble setting aside "special interests" during working hours.

When you have autism you stick out like a torch in a dark room. People talk together sooner or later they will find those who talk with nobody.

Not to mention many people, noises. suddenly getting new tasks without warning.

and what other people are saying as well. Its hard to work, when you're a do it alone kind of person. teamplayer ? yeah if teamplayer means i always get stuck doing everything, meaning i might as well do it myself.

Lost my job after 5 or 6 years, was a butcher. pretty much only had time for work, so it actually didn help the problem. if i wasnt a nut case and had trouble with other people.

I got it after 5 years of working going home sleeping, go to work, go home sleeping. nothing else.

Work just drains my mental energies, cannot stand being around a other people for very long.

I have to bring trolleys into the supermarket for customers but the checkout supervisors keep taking them away and it feels like I am failing at my job. Only the bosses know about my diagnosis but I have a reputation with the staff of stressing out very quickly and being a loner, I don't bother with my interests at work (they wont care about mine and I don't care about theirs) but my interest in birds sometimes distracts me when I am outside (where I work there is lots of bird life) also I can be clumsy and daydream a bit more than others (I think some of my co-workers suspect something isn't quite normal with me). I hate it when I have to change my break times it throws everything out of kilter and I have to re-plan my days schedule.

For those who have trouble multi-tasking, carry around a notepad if you can. Not all environments are conducive to this, but some are (i.e. most office jobs). Any boss worth his wheat will not mind this, and it will even put a good impression on others. Every task that comes up, write it down with a scale of order of importance. A scale of 1-4 helps me, with 1 being do this STAT, and 4 being something that you need to do at some point but just when there's nothing else going on. 2 is basically important but not urgent, and 3 is not important, not urgent, but needs attention.

This has helped me a great deal in getting things done. Some days are worse than others but I don't feel as overwhelmed on a daily basis as I did. I deal with constant interruptions during the course of the workday (people in.out of my office, phone calls, etc.), so I always have a pen nearby and the current page flipped open.

As far as emails go, they are another source of interruption, but one that you can usually deal with on your terms. Unless it's a pressing matter, I check emails first thing in the AM and last thing in the PM, and that's it. I do browse my inbox a few times during the day, but I can almost always judge the importance of an email by the sender and/or the subject.