Searching For Work With AS (Any Tips/Resources)?

Post Reply New Topic

Hello all.

I had question about ways to seek employment.
I am a 27 year old who has been unemployed for 18 months, and I have mild Aspergers.

After receiving a master's degree in Geography, I have been unable to find work in my field. I have contacted temp agencies looking for work, but everytime they come with a lead I get anxiety and end up declining or passing.

I have been in the workforce before and found it unberable. I need employment, but simply do not know how to go about getting a job which I can be successful at.

I currently live in Northern VA. If you have any tips or advice on how to navigate employment, I would love to hear.

I was wondering if you would suggest just doing temp work, searching craig's list, or if there are any re-had services.
Any insight/experiences on temp agencies or others would be helpful.

I get the impression I am really on my own, and that there are not any rehab/vocational places.
Thank you for time and support.

My husband and I both have Asperger's (along with one of our sons). My husband is a computer programmer. It is something that he truly loves, and it is what he is gifted at with the AS. So, for him, he was very lucky to find something that really clicked with his strength and doesn't rely on the things he is weak at, such as face-to-face communication.

For me, I found that I was very good at doing tax returns. I am now on disability, but that it due to things other than the AS.

For both of us, we found jobs that were very detail-oriented, did not deal with a lot of human interaction (I worked at a CPA firm where other members of the firm dealt with the clients, and I got to just crunch numbers), and generally played to the AS strengths.

I would take some time and really think about what does and doesn't click for you. Try to identify what type(s) of jobs would be most comfortable.

I, personally, would avoid short-term temp jobs since they would have more "first day on the job" situations which I find very uncomfortable. But, many temp agencies have openings for longer-term or temp-to-hire positions. One of those could be a good way for you to try something new and see how it fits for you.

My husband really loves his job and actually enjoys getting to go to work. I also really enjoyed what I did. The key, especially with AS, is to find something that you enjoy.

As someone who has actually had to apply for disability, if you end up needing to go that route, maybe even for a while to help work on the anxiety, just keep good records of your attempts to work. The sad fact is that you might be able to get more help through one of Social Security's back to work programs if you are on disability trying to get back to work than you might be able to get on your own.

Good luck! It is doable!

I have resisted doing disability because I felt it would be frowned upon since I am very high functioning with AS.

I am however very fearful of going to a temp agency and just being "placed" in somewhere to see what happens.
It's sad too, because I am talking about work which is totally NOT related to my degree.
I really tried to get work with the Federal Government through USA Jobs, but they had nothing open.
Even with schedule A certification. That would have been a dream.

What is your area of expertise? Are you willing to relocate? Because I am guessing if you are willing to move, you might have better luck. I used monster.com and just entered "geography" and got hits from all over the country. Not tons of hits but hits nevertheless and I did not refine my search.

Is it possible to get an "internship" somewhere doing what you do? Which usually means you don't get paid, or paid very little but you get experience.

Will your college help you find a job? Do they offer career services for alumni? Are any of their alumni employed in your field and you could have an "information interview" with them. Meaning you are not asking for a job, you just want to know about their job, if it goes well, they may offer you some job contacts.

I really like the Richard Bolles book "What Color is Your Parachute?" on finding the right job and how to go about doing it.

Temping is temporary, I used to temp and I actually liked it because I never had to stay very long and get caught up in office politics. Also, if it turns out the assignment is unbearable it is perfectly OK to call the agency and tell them you can't work there. I did that a few times, one was working for a micro managing crazy person, another was the other employee talked my head off about her sick friend with cancer and in the bad old days when smoking was allowed in offices, I was at an office where everyone smoked like fiends, and I couldn't stand it. I also registered with more than one agency, so I would always get assignments.

Most of the assignments were very benign, they were just happy you showed up and some assignments, there was practically nothing to do, they just had to keep that slot open in their budget. I had one place that told me it was ok to read a book while waiting for the phone to ring or work to be given to me. If they offer you a job, which also happened once in awhile, I must have been too efficient (joking), it is also allowable to say, no thanks.

Posted below is a description of geography careers from wisegeek.com, which one describes you?

Human geography involves the study and recording of how people function in the space they inhabit. An individual with a degree in human geography could find a career in urban planning, marketing, transportation, real estate, or tourism.

A person who has a degree in physical geography would most likely qualify for a career in land planning, forestry planning, the study of wetlands, water resources, weather forecasting, and land management. They could also be involved in urban planning, or the study of land forms, soils, water, climates, and the patterns of climates. Cartography, which in the most simple terms is the study of maps, is also a field that a geographer might consider.

Many geography careers begin within the local, state, or federal government. Non-profit organizations are another source for finding a geography career. Because geography involves urban planning, for example, a person can find a job at a for profit company or corporation that deals with various aspects of real estate development or land development.

One way to find contacts are trade groups The Open Geospatial Consortium
http://www.opengeospatial.org/ Or maybe check their fourms. Look at the state level i see many states have geospatial offices.