If you’re autistic, what job do you have and how do you cope?

[pickituppp]

I’m in my late 20s and reached burn out, and now realise that I’m most likely autistic. I powered through up until now and now feel exhausted and need a change. Im due to start a new job soon in the same field and keep crying thinking about it as I don’t feel strong enough. If you’re autistic, what job do you do and how do you cope with it?

Just bumping this

My DH works in the sports industry as a manager. He is very very into sport and knows his shit so it suits him. Do you have a keen interest in something?

I’m returning to the same career post diagnosis and post children, I think the key for me has been the number of days worked, I can’t do full time. It’s too much for me. That’s my coping strategy anyway, hopefully it will come good!

I'm not autistic but am neurodiverse and have been through many burn outs and now have a job I don't (yet) burn out at.

What do you do?

What aspects of the role do you specifically think led you to burn out?

Forgot to add I know several autistic adult men and they have coped by working in their special interest field.

I work in something that plays to my strengths, had flexible working so I can work when I want and rest when I need to and now have a manager and SLT that are really understanding of when I need time away.

Is there something you'd enjoy doing you could turn into a career?

I have an NHS admin job. I actually cope fine at work, my issues are more around the social side of things, plus auditory issues (overly loud music, people I didn't know and too many voices in a small space resulted in a meltdown last weekend).

I started my current role a few weeks ago and I'm masking to a degree, as in trying to chat etc. I think people mostly think I'm quiet, but once I'm settled in that might change!

Sorry I don't have much in the way of advice, but I hope you find something that works for you!

I'm autistic and I've been a waitress, data entry operator, supermarket cashier and department store assistant. Not worked in 24 years though as I've been a sahm and wouldn't be able to cope with work, and have no interest in working again. Luckily I'm quite well off due to my geeky interests.

After decades of struggling in various jobs without really knowing why, I took time out and just did all sorts of strange jobs that had a commitment of a day - everything from note taking for students to life modelling - before somehow finding my way into counselling and therapy, which is where I am (very happily) now. Finding out I’m autistic came later, but I had already found the best working balance for me: high autonomy and very low levels of ‘office politics’ (well, none at all in private practice unless I fall out with myself); the ability to concentrate for long periods on what interests me (people) and to use analysis and reflection, and absolutely NO small talk.

I'm a freelance 3d artist. Part time too.
Its also my special area of interest. I work in landscaping and basically only deal with other landscaping companies doing their visualisation so hardly ever speak to a customer myself just other designer who are often an odd lot anyway. It took over 10 years working in stressful design offices before hand but when my last job let me go i was so fucking relieved. Convinced my oh to let me try my own little business and its going as well as i could hope. Its bliss.

Name changed so I can be specific! I'm a quantity surveyor. You have the option of a more "stable" permanent job or you can take on project work if you want to move on/around more. I would say you'd definitely need an interest in the area to do it, though.

I know that I work best when I'm in charge of my own stuff/area but part of a larger whole.
I can't cope with phone calls so emails are the main method of communication.

I work in a financial field, dealing with processes and compliance . I’ve been in the same job quite a while without burning out. I do a 35 hour week with a 15 min commute. I have an office to myself and I’m ‘out’ so my colleagues understand if I shut the door against their jibber jabber.

I'm a GP, but I'm not sure it is completely sustainable.

I’m autistic and I’m a teacher at a SEND school working with other autistic students.

I absolutely love it but teaching is very difficult so I am going to leave.

Unfortunately I also have ADHD and struggle to stay in a job more than 3 years and so finding a career is very difficult.

My DD has autism and ADHD too (high functioning) but she would struggle in a high stress environment like teaching and so I’m not sure what career she’s going to do and she is in year 11 and has no clue either.

I’m a teacher. I mask a lot, and change schools every few years.

Diagnosed through the NHS ~12 years ago in my early 30s (Asperger's as was), currently director level in IT / information systems for an international management consultancy.

Plays really well to my strengths and I am very good at my job, BUT it took me a long time and a lot of false starts.

Failure is part of the process.

Should add that I work 100% remotely, apart from occasional trips to our London / New York offices if I feel like it or it's COMPLETELY necessary, highly autonomous (I'm an SME and lead my own function) and manage a very small team that I've hand-picked and trained myself.

Law but I wfh and am part time.

I am a gàrdener/horticulturalist and spend my days surrounded by green and living things, and usually work alone so I don't have to engage or interact with other people!

My recall means that I am able to name most plants, birds, insects and animals by their binomial scientific name as well as their common name, can describe their habits, environmental needs, biology and dislikes without even thinking about it!

My happy place is out in the open air, surrounded by greenery and as far away from human habitation, crowds and noise as possible!

I'm a barrister. I burned out in my 20s working in-house and went self-employed, so the reverse of what many people do. Self employment suits me brilliantly and the old-fashioned nature of barristers' chambers means that someone else does my admin. If I'm not in court I mostly work from home, in my own hours. The area I work in is my special interest so I am always up to date and being pedantic is obviously not a problem!

DS was diagnosed (Aspergers) when he was at school. He is now a falconer.

Learning disability care home manager, mask and change jobs every few years. a third of my team are autistic, probably a few more that don't have a diagnosis.

I’m a health care professional. I’ve changed jobs frequently in the past. I now have a role working from home which suits me much better than the office environment. I’m fine one to one with patients but struggle with meetings and team dynamics and avoid social functions like the plague. I work best with structure, routine and predictable tasks and will happily take on more of the “donkey work” to free up colleagues time for more creative/innovative ventures (which I have no inclination to get involved in!)

My husband drove a forklift truck for years,He coped really well as he was on his own mainly and it was repetitive which he relies on a great deal, Now in his late 50s he swapped to transport planning as his first love is problem solving,his mind works in ways I cannot understand and things that baffle me jump off the page crystal clear to him!