Question to aspies: Do you have a job?

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I had no problem getting jobs; even after-school when I was a teen. But that's because one of my special interests is electronics, and I liked to repair old TV sets. So this was also a very good skill (note that I say "WAS", since there is no longer a demand for TV & VCR repair). So I got jobs working in TV repair shops, and most TV repair shop owners were kind of "nerdly", so I would appeal to them on that level. I continued in that line of work through my early 30s, when the business disappeared. I always got along very well with older adults, although not with peers. Since TV repair customers were mainly older people, it was a great job for me.

After I quit that line of work, I got a job in the quality control and electronic testing lab at a small military contract electronics manufacturing company. The CEO was a former customer of my TV repair business, and she approached me several years before, and told me to call her if I ever wanted a full time job. I loved the atmosphere and the pay, and the people were great, but in less than 3 years I was about driven crazy by the repetitious and mundane routine, and lack of room for mental creativity. It was a "team work" position, and I don't strive on a team. I guess the dislike of a mundane, repetitious job sounds bizarre coming from an Aspie, but that's the way I feel. I work best alone, and it was too taxing for me to try to pretend that the team work was for me. I did a great job, and they were very disappointed when I said I was giving my notice. I continued on a per-diem basis, and would go fill in for the main technician when he was out sick or on vacation. I also did a lot of eBay sales, so I didn't need the full time pay check.

Since then, I got married, and my wife and I run an avocado ranch, and we have some rental properties. She does the books, and I do the maintenance, and we have an excellent employee who oversees the daily labor with the avocado ranch. This past 4 years of self-employment is the happiest and most responsible I've ever felt!

Charles

How did you get it? My current position was a promotion within the company at which I was already employed.
Did you go through an interview process? Yes. It was really uncomfortable, but I got through it.
Did you disclose your diagnosis? (I'm self-diagnosed) Personally, I would probably never tell anyone at work.
Is your job a good fit for your diagnosis? Yes. It's a web design position and I rarely have to directly collaborate with my co-workers.
Do you like your job? Yes.
How many jobs have you held? Including part-time jobs, I have had five employers. If you count only full-time employment, I've had two (one for about 3 years and I've been with my current employer for almost seven years)
Have you ever been fired? Do you know why? Yes. My superiors were threatened by my technical proficiency.
Do you know how to fake it or do you care what your coworkers think of you? I think I fake it quite well.
Are you in therapy of some sort (meds included) to keep up with the social demands of your job? No. I just take time to myself when I need it.

I don't but I want one.