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?

I have neurofibromatosis, which comes with a lot of autism traits. I had many jobs in younger years and hated most of them. I am self employed now and run my own business on my own terms. I do this because I found working for others quite emotionally painful. I had several student jobs in offices and I hated it. I organise my life in a way that some might consider to be quite isolated, but I find it makes me more productive and I have many remote clients thanks to the internet. For me it is heaven to choose how and when I interact with others, and decide what work I accept. I am not running a business related to what I originally hold a doctorate in. I work from home, and home educate one child diagnosed with autism. I know she would struggle with a typical work environment. I hope she gets interested in the family business later in life.

I'm not diagnosed but i'm 98% certain I have autism... I work in admin. The wfh/office balance helps and having my own set pieces of work that rarely change

Worked in IT, some areas were more challenging but I coped for 26 years. I’m now a teacher of computing. Luckily lots of kids who take it as an option are ND so it works out really well. I’m also lucky that I’m financially secure so I’ve made a decision to not take on additional responsibilities.

@MagicTape my autistic DH is also a barrister. The self employment, ability to manage work as he chooses, centralised admin and tolerance of socially atypical but very bright people all play to his strengths. Time management isn't his forte and he has to be stopped from burning himself out because he can hyper focus on the work.

He knows a couple of other autistic lawyers, though very few people are open about it. There's a lot of others he suspects are neurodiverse. I think the bar is a good home for a certain type of ND person that really couldn't deal with being managed, working set hours, office culture.

This is such a useful thread thanks OP.
I’ve been so disheartened with what my life and autistic person in a NT world will hold but this thread is actually really inspiring. Thank you

I note that many of you change jobs often. Why is that?

I work in a school advocating for neurodivergent kids, and absolutely love it. Took me a while to find this calling but it is perfect for me. Allows me to hyperfocus when needed, in a mainly calm environment. Very little teaching, lots of 1-1 support and coaching.

One of my kids has Asperger’s (that’s what they were diagnosed under and is the label they choose rather than ASD, do no need to correct me🙄). They work in a highly specialised field which to me seems like just developing a whole lot of formula’s on spreadsheets but it fits them and plays to their strengths. Pretty much every person in their uni course had exactly the same diagnosis, don’t want to be outing/identified. It’s also a role where, while always in large companies, you pretty much work as a team of one and hand off the output. LONG hours, and a lot of pressure with output but they all seem to thrive on what they do as they have a small industry network, so my child knows others and they are all pretty much peas in a pod. I think that’s the key, getting a job that aligns with how your brain works and plays to your strengths.

Sorry, should have added my child has Aspergers and ADHD (medicated).

Part time (I'm lucky it's well paid; this wasn't by design) in my special interest area. Small office, very flexible working (eg can put off today's work until a non working day if I need to, without telling anyone, as long as overall work gets done). Had a few burnouts to get to this point, repeated school years etc.

I would recommend a 3 or 4 day week if you can afford to. This job is my first time working part time and I've managed 5 years without any kind of burnout, which is the first time in 20 years of working. I essentially write off Friday each week. I am diagnosed (Aspergers).

Used to work in a pub. I was excellent at my job because I was acting a part - I was never 'me' at work.
Now project management - I used to mask all the time, never made friends, avoided all social events. Since I realised I was autistic and let my line manager know it is much easier. I still do the same work and have the same requirements to attend team building etc. but there is an understanding that some allowances will be made, more thought goes into planning events and I can step back from some activities if they are too much for me (team building not actual work!) When introducing myself to new team members I always explain that I am autistic and therefore I work best when there is no ambiguity about what I need to do, and that I understand that I may come across as being difficult or brusque sometimes. I ask that if that is the case it should be brought to my attention so that I can reframe my words in a different, and more acceptable, way. I have made some good friends now who understand the way my mind works.
I am very lucky in that I work in a place that has a culture of inclusion - other people may not feel that they are able to disclose their autism. For me it's the only way - it explains why I need detail in my instructions, which then allows me to go on and do an excellent job. I call it knowing where the edges of the box are. I'm not good at thinking outside the box, but it can be a HUGE box and I'm very good at finding lots of alternative solutions within it.

@MagicTape I think law or any field where specialisms and pedantry are welcomed (more so, anyway) are fab for ASD and ADHD. Particularly where academically gifted but might struggle in other arenas to maintain work.

I work in Finance.

Not diagnosed but familiar traits and generally anxious. Also in project management for the past three years (and twice as many jobs in that time). For twenty years before that I was in a niche role, totally different industry, happy to be good at what I did and with part time hours. A combination of changes to the role led to sudden burnout hence the career change. Before that I had a wide variety of short term roles.

Looking for something that’s a better fit again as I’m really tired of feeling awkward and stressed even though my current job is well paid and the people are decent.

I'm an A&E doctor - formally diagnosed with both Asperger's (as was) and later ADHD. Have told work OH about the ADHD (as I think more socially acceptable?) but have bever disclosed the ASD diagnosis and I'm reasonably sure I mask so well colleagues would be shocked. I absolutely love my job (despite current NHS issues) because:

-Physiology and anatomy has always been one of my special interests
-I'm nosy
-I'm really good at and get a buzz from pattern-recognition
-I really like people! But find it hard to interact in an unstructured way - the doctor/ patient interaction is highly structured so I just follow 'the rules'
-Oddly specific, but the way the day works means everyone takes breaks at different times, so I can zone out during my break and recharge without having to deal with small talk: when I was working on wards my 'horror point' during the day (apart from ward-rounds which basically made me want to have ADHD-based hysterics) was announcing I was going for lunch and other juniors going 'oh great, I'll come with you'
-Constant novelty to appease my ADHD coupled with a structured environment that works with ASD
-Constant opportunity to learn new stuff - fact-collecting is another SI
-Good camaraderie with colleagues/ lots of senior support, but everyone is too busy for small talk beyond the basics. So opportunity to get to know and like people but no pressure to do stressful faux-social interactions

I know I'm very lucky to have found something that works so well for me, but it took a couple of false starts before medicine, and even once I qualified my rotations working on wards nearly killed me 😂.

I worked in a university for a while: degree, post graduate degree, another post grade degree and research. I didn’t see myself as different to the others that worked there.

Now I teach in a STEM subject - I mask at work sometimes and have learnt to do this.

I remember phoning one parent as the student was new and settling in - but had done well and Mum informed me …. ‘He’s loving it. He came home after the first week and said ‘You know Mum I don’t think I am autistic - in my class everyone is like me and even the teacher is’….

Having a structure and rules to follow is good for me.

I had the issue for years that I would start a job, be amazing at the job then start to make mistakes, dislike the job and I would end up leaving or being sacked. I didn't realise for a long time that I was masking and it was not sustainable.

I worked in hospitality in my late teens/early twenties. I wanted to be sociable/popular back then. I worked in 6 different establishments over 4 years. Would start great but go downhill.

I then set a childcare business up, this worked quite well as I like kids but I put too much pressure on myself and took too much on. I did it for 10 years in total but hated it for about 4 of them.

I then trained as a mental health worker but I really struggled with the job. I lasted 2 years (felt pressured as this was my third career) and had a breakdown . I became a sahm for 3 years .

I then worked in a school, I hated it within a few months and left after 9 months. Interestingly this was the first job I didn't mask in but I also found my tolerance level was much lower.

I finally got a job as a librarian. I love books and it's a great job for me, it's slow paced which gives me time to think about how to do stuff (slow processing skill) it's quite repetitive but there is some social element which I enjoy. It's also part time which suits me as I get some down time on days off. Also all staff are a bit weird so I fit in.

School lab tech. I get my own room to organise and most of the day is quiet. Everyday is slightly different so I never get too bored plus lots of holidays to recharge without having to worry about catching up when I get back

This is such an interesting thread!

I was recently, finally diagnosed as autistic and I am starting to acknowledge how the condition has affected my work life.

I have burned out several times in jobs. Working part-time and/or from home has helped a bit.

@autiebooklover

''I had the issue for years that I would start a job, be amazing at the job then start to make mistakes, dislike the job and I would end up leaving or being sacked. I didn't realise for a long time that I was masking and it was not sustainable.''

This is exactly what has happened to me in almost every jobs for the past 15 years!

It is such a relief to finally understand my condition better and accepts that it has an impact on my work.

I have to accept that if I don't make changes now the same thing will continue to happen over and over as I am simply not suited to the sector/type of roles that I have been working in.

DH in his area of expertise, specific electronics related. I'm in education (that I trained for) but no longer able to teach following burnout

I've left many jobs during to becoming disenchanted by mistakes or hugely poor working practices

I work in local government as a data analyst. They are an inclusive employer and recognise what I can do.

I run my own dog walking business. I manage around 25 hours a week and earn a good wage. Minimal interaction with people and I can set my own rules.

I love it.

My dad is autistic (undiagnosed, but he def is, my son is diagnosed).
He has made his life into the study of his special interest (geology). He has just turned 80 and is currently on his 4th trip of the year to a remote desert region of Africa where he is currently studying the strata. He works 7 days a week. He became very depressed during lockdown when he was unable to travel to the museum where he works every day. He was 77!

My autistic friend is an NHS podiatrist. It suits her as she can't sit still and we are very busy, work from a different place every day and slays going out to see patients at home as well as in clinic. She loves it.