Working below your capabilities

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I'm wondering if it is common among those with AS to prefer not to be promoted in their job, as it would lead to doing work that is way outside our comfort zone, that we feel we are not capable of, and that is not the type of work we want to do anyway. Personally, I just want to find a job that I love, with a role that suits me and I am happy to become a specialist at. Moving up the ladder does not interest me, but this is an uncommon stance in the workforce.

I could probably push myself and work up to managerial level, but just thinking about taking on this kind of role gives me the shivers.

I'd be interested to hear from those of you who have decided not to try for promotions, but have found your niche and are happy to stay there, to not earn any more money or take on different responsibilities. How has that worked out for you? Is it a good idea, if it's what you want?

My husband feels the same way. He's been doing the same type of job for the last 27 years. He's been offered a supervisory positions numerous times over the years and always turns them down. He does not want to deal with telling others what to do and being the person that has to deal with upper management. He just rather go to work, do his job well, and then go home and not bring his work home with him (mentally).

I would not be comfortable in a managerial position and hated it the one time I did have that position. I have also learned in life to watch my stress levels. I simply can't handle a lot of stress and the result of too much is shutdown and depression.

My husband is similar. When he has had supervisory roles, he was very good at it. The level of stress that came with the responsibility was ultimately not worth the extra money.

I really like the position I have now, and have refused to apply for openings higher up that I qualified for. I am very comfortable with the responsability/accountability balance, and it provides just enough challenge to keep me stimulated without being overstressed.

(I coach virtual call-center trainees during their first 2 weeks on the phones.)

I also technically have my own sewing business, but I've found I'm happier with that being a paying hobby rather than trying to make it a full-time venture. Although I would love to sell some of my clothing designs to a bigger company so they could make use of them, I don't want the stress of trying to mass-produce those designs myself.

i was always exemplifying the bottom end of the peter principal, in that even in the most menial jobs i'd screw up somehow.

At my present job, there is one promotion I could conceivably earn without becoming Management. Being Management is something that I do not want, ever, because it would require getting to know other "personalities" at work.

That promotion isn't for me, either. It would require that I have a phone at my desk. And that would mean we would be finding out how hard one would have to throw a phone in order to break a window. It's bad enough occasionally sending unscripted emails.

I turned down a number of management promotion offers while doing service work; the guys earning tips make more money and have less responsibility than the managers, so why would anyone want to be promoted?

After my biology degree, I did a post-grad in environmental monitoring. Part of this was a work placement in an energy management team at the local council. I was kept on as a clerical assistant (definitely not using my skills there), promoted to admin assistant 2 years later and stayed at this level for 9 years. I was basically secretary to a manager and also designed databases, which worked for me. But, we had a staffing review and I was moved into a team and given supervisory responsibilities. That's the worst thing that could have happened to me and getting promoted from there only meant being responsible for more staff. I didn't want that and my boss would not have viewed me as capable anyway, so I would not have received a good reference. I would have received a good reference for a promotion into a post which involved system development, etc, but those posts were like gold dust.

My husband has Aspergers traits. He's as far up as he can go (senior engineer) without staff supervision responsibilities. So he doesn't see himself moving up at all, even though he's very capable at his job.

Personally, I just want to put in my hours, then come home and not think about work for a even a second. The only way I'd take on a more difficult job is if it meant I could retire several years earlier or something.

That doesn't mean I don't work hard at my job, but career advancement just isn't a priority at all. I have several hobbies that I'd prefer to focus on rather than being stressed out about work. I envy those rare people who have jobs they actually love doing.

Indeed. If I found a job I love, I'd work super hard and would never let it go as long as it stayed the same. Being promoted to supervisory/managerial level would be a bad move, because the love for the job would disappear and I'd end up quitting soon enough like I always do.

^^^^ I feel pretty much the same...

I have never had a job that even came close to challenging my abilities they all bore me to tears. The real problem is finding an Aspie friendly job that i really enjoy. Does anyone else feel frustrated at work knowing your too smart and gifted to work in your field? I was already doing college level work at age 8.

Since I originally posted this I have quit my job. I have been job hunting for a couple of months now and finding it really hard. I was talking to my psychologist last night about how it would be such a shame to go back to administrative work after completing a four year degree. But ultimately, if that is where I can find the type of work that is right for me, perhaps it is for the best? But I'm not passionate about it.

Yeah, finding as Aspie job that you really enjoy is so tough. For you nolan, it seems the kind of job that you enjoy is one that challenges you. I'm not so worried about that - it is more important to me that I am interested and inspired. I want my employer to be happy to leave me in my dream position and not pressure me to "progress in my career" etc etc.

Moving up within the ranks of an organization is usually more a function of social skills rather than job skills, competence or experience. No matter how well I've done my job, when it comes to promotions I always find myself on the outside looking in.

I think a lot of times autistic people are underestimated. A tell tale sign is that when the other workers are offered overtime and I am told to go home. Its not that I like working long hours but the fact is that people that work overtime are not the first ones to be laid off.