Bad Jobs for Aspies/ASD

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I agree with all the bad Jobs listed below in the link. Any disagreements/experiences?

My experience:

My worst jobs:
1. Pharmacist-the worst parts were telephone calls, working the till, data entry/insurance issues.
2. Busboy (waiter would be far worse but I only lasted 2 days as busboy)

My best jobs:
1. Assembly-line worker at Coca-cola and beer brewery-boring but very Aspie/anxiety-friendly, relaxing
2. Janitor/cleaner-pay was crap but relatively Aspie/anxiety-friendly

Bad Jobs for People with High Functioning Autism or Asperger's Syndrome: Jobs that require high demands on short-term working memory:

Cashier -- making change quickly puts too much demand on short-term working memory
Short order cook -- Have to keep track of many orders and cook many different things at the same time
Waitress -- Especially difficult if have to keep track of many different tables
Casino dealer -- Too many things to keep track of
Taxi dispatcher -- Too many things to keep track of
Taking oral dictation -- Difficult due to auditory processing problems
Airline ticket agent -- Deal with angry people when flights are cancelled
Futures market trader -- Totally impossible
Air traffic controller -- Information overload and stress
Receptionist and telephone operator -- Would have problems when the switch board got busy

http://www.autism.com/ind_choosing_job.asp

This is also quite difficult for those of us who have below average dexterity.



I couldn't agree with you more.

It's only unfortunate that we tend to have the abilities for more dedicated jobs, yet lack the interpersonal skills to get them, and we have the interpersonal skills to get the entry level jobs, and lack the abilities to perform them.

I really wish employers would start seeing those of us with AS for the specialized workers that we are, as we can be rather large assets to companies when utilized properly.

Yep, but they would probably use the hell out of us. My last employer did until he realized I couldn't handle all the different aspects of the job. University never prepared me for the real world. School-success, real-life failure.

I definitely agree with that list. I've had nearly ten jobs and, despite trying my ass off, have lost all of them due to my condition. I tried janitorial work for awhile and couldn't even keep doing that, because I'm so uncoordinated and because of uncontrollable fatigue that hits me at unpredictable times, sometimes in an unstable mixed state with the panic attacks. Of course a big part of this was because of the other co-morbid conditions I'm affected by along with Asperger's: severe OCD, mood disorder (most likely bipolar), and mild psychosis. I can say, without exaggeration, that I am disabled. And it absolutely does suck. But oh well... hopefully I really will someday finally get the zero bedroom apartment I was promised on the list for housing and also get SSI, which a lawyer is working with me for. Otherwise, maybe I'll end up sleeping under bridges and next to railroads, trying to stay bundled up in layers of moldy blankets while hoping not to be attacked by junkies, cops, or hungry rodents. Happy happy, joy joy!

Anything that induces boredom.

Anything that includes frequent interruptions.

I found restaurant work not so bad because the interruptions WERE the job so I could focus on the interruptions, so to speak. But it was soooo boring.

Anything dealing with the snooty public.

I prefer not job at all. The only jobs I can have acces would kill me out of boredom.

Angry people don't bother me in the slightest. I actually find them sort of funny, because they get mad about things that are their own fault or that nobody has any control over. I have a good politeness routine for customer service, so I'm actually decent at that. I learned to do math in my head when I delivered pizzas.

Here's a list of bad jobs for me.

--Anything with high time pressure, i.e. go faster, unreasonable quotas, too much work for one person, etc.
--Anything with extensive, complicated relationships with coworkers (especially poorly educated, non-task focused coworkers), or customers (no salesman or service type jobs).
--Anything with lots of surprises, irregular schedules, and disruptions.

I'm more fortunate than many of you guys in that I can handle one on one interactions fairly well, especially if they're uncomplicated and routine. It's group dynamics and "relationship building" that mystify me.

I got the current job I have through vocational rehab. I'm the only worker for a small-business owner. I am able to use my college skills (MBA) to help develop the business. If we grow, I will be able to grow with the business and become financially independent. We make a good team because I'm a technician (organizing the store, fixing machines, sorting stuff, developing spreadsheets to increase profits, and managing the computers), while she is a people person who does all the interactions, sales, connection building. Even if the business doesn't grow, I feel like I've found a niche as an asst. manager for a small business (think Hank Hill's job), and will look for this type of job again.

I would recommend to anyone here that's having job troubles (and in this economy there are bound to be lots) that you get some sort of official diagnosis (mine was chronic depression and anxiety), that would allow you access to vocational rehabilitation services. They are able to assess your skills, talk with you about what you're looking for and what you're good at, and refer you jobs that will be more suited for you. They can also help you bypass the social networking system that puts some of us at a severe disadvantage. They have the contacts that many of us don't. They also have programs where the employer KNOWS they are hiring someone with a disability of some sort. One of the tougher lessons I've had to learn is that in an imperfect world, sometimes you have to accept people's charity. I'd rather not have to, but in a society that was pure survival of the fittest, I wouldn't.

I could never work in a restaurant--- ugh! Even some jobs that you'd think would be bad, though, could be good in the right circumstances. As a nurse, I'd tried to work in a hospital, but it was chaotic. The people, the doctors, the stress... it was so bad I quit that one after only 6 months. But now I do more like home health style nursing with terminally ill patients. One patient at a time only, and even before you begin working the families regard you as some sort of merciful being, so they are usually very nice. Also, not many co-workers to deal with, except the occasional meeting. They even try to feed you ( we're supposed to decline, but if they really push the issue I'll take a cookie or something). I can't imagine ever working with angry people on a phone ( UGH!! !) or people in a restaurant (ugh!! !). My job does sometimes have down-time, too ( not always alot of patients to be seen) so I can surf on my computer or even nap/watch TV. So, I won't necessarily peg every job as "un-doable", because even within one field, there may be different ways of doing things... sometimes.

I think if charity is okay for children it should be okay for adults with physical/mental disabilities. I have an official anxiety diagnosis; unfortunately here in Canada you also have to be receiving a Canada disability pension. I don't think my anxiety is severe enough to remotely qualify. And I would never do it, unless I was on the streets starving.

I want to work but I have zero technical skills that can be used in the work-force and when you also have poor social skills, it's hard to even get through the door. If it wasn't for my professional designation, I would be screwed. I still might be because I have a lot of trouble learning things in the "real" world like; things that come so friggin natural to people that I consider really slow in school. I hung around with some friends who I considered severely mentally challenged in school but are extremely productive/successful in the real world. It's very confusing. And it's not because I haven't tried to do some other jobs. I tried carpentry, income tax analyst, payroll, electrician, busboy, etc. I was just really bad at all of them, while others picked up the stuff so much easier. Why was university so easy and real life work so hard? Is there anyone else like this?

Yes, I'm brilliant in any university or any training program, but as far as working goes I have tried over a dozen jobs with multiple degrees and still I can't hack working.

I totally relate. The difference is this. In the academic world, the greatest value is placed upon intellectual curiosity, effort, understanding of complex concepts, and the intelligent expression of one's thoughts and opinions. In the working world, none of these things mean jack squat (except the last, in a limited range of circumstances). All employers care about is whether you can get more done for less money than the next resume they pick up. I'm not exaggerating when I say that to a corporation, you're nothing but another asset that produces wealth for them. A corporation is not a human being and couldn't give a damn whether you live in a mansion or starve in the streets (some entrepreneurs may be this way, but I have never met any). While the knowledge you pick up in college is necessary for the working world, most everything else is not. The values are polar opposites, and whatever talent you may have for doing university work probably isn't applicable to most jobs.

Here's my advice. If you were very good at school, consider getting an advanced degree and teaching. Those who can't do, teach. If you want a highly technical position, look at programs that emphasize job placement, ideally ones that place you in the job without you having to do a ton of interaction (i'm thinking DeVry type stuff here). Don't beat your head against a wall in the same jobs you know you're going to fail at. Also, don't bother trying to work for a big company. The bigger it is, the less tolerance there will be for people who are different or don't fit in or require accommodations. It's easier for a big firm to just hire someone new and not have to deal with the complicated aspie. If you possibly can get any doctor to declare you legally disabled, DO IT, and don't feel bad about it. In America, there are incentives to hire the disabled and it puts you higher on the list for government jobs, many of which don't have the pressure level that you find in private firms. Normal people think nothing of using their social networks to get jobs; why should I feel any guilt about using whatever means I have to increase my chances.

Dangerously close to a thread hijack, but humans are not even considered an asset. A piece of machinery goes onto the books as an asset, is depreciated over time, and the value of that asset can be transferred by sale. A human is nothing more than a cost center.

From a pure accounting perspective, the machines in a factory have more worth than the people running them.

I'm too young to have a job, but I will list the best and worst jobs for people with AS, according to what I have learned on the internet.

Worst Jobs:
Bartender-Requires a lot of communication/loud, obnoxious noise and people, so I could understand why Aspies might dislike these jobs.
Physical Education Teacher-(This part is from my experience as a student) I'm not sure if I am correct on this or not, but some Aspies may have difficulty with team sports (or at least I do). They often require competition, and if you're an Aspie who despises forms of being competitive to anything, this may not be something for you.


I can't think of any more jobs that they could detest...I don't have a job yet (I'm fourteen).

Wood carving sounds like something I'd like if could do it and also if I could make money selling it on the internet. This seems like a way to make extra cash than anything else.




This sounds the best to me from that list. Whether good or bad I feel much better with sameness and routine and I love being around books even if I go through periods where I can't read that mnay books. There's a lot of people at the library but it tends to be not much talking and quiet but would still probably have me do a relatively minor amount of talking with people in non-non-stressful environment which would be good for me to do and get better at doing with people in general. Also, the library is non-profit.

I also think working in an indoor arbaretum taking care of plants would sound good too. But that would seem like a rare position to find and probably needing lots of education and not an apprentice job.

In my current job I have a lot of down time and there's sameness and routine but it can still be stressful for me at times.

Jobs for Nonverbal People with Autism or People with Poor Verbal Skills

Reshelving library books -- Can memorize the entire numbering system and shelf locations
Janitor jobs -- Cleaning floors, toilets, windows and offices
Restocking shelves -- In many types of stores
Recycling plant -- Sorting jobs
Warehouse -- Loading trucks, stacking boxes
Lawn and garden work -- Mowing lawns and landscaping work
Plant care -- Water plants in a large office building

These would be good jobs for me, but the pay is crap. I've done some of these and I'd say the average pay is ~$10-15/hour, assuming you can find such work and you get hired/pass the interview. Nowadays you need a resume to clean toilets. The boredom with some of these jobs did not bother me. If I could do one of this jobs, support myself and have some time to pursue my special interests that would amazing. But it would also be fantasyland.