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AIBU?

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Original poster

Shy, autistic, and intelligent - what job would suit me? (title edited by MNHQ at request of OP)

64 replies

imthewor · 12/06/2023 14:09

I'm having a bit of a career break whilst I manage autistic burnout and re-evaluate the direction of my career.

I have an undergraduate and master's in biosciences (first and distinction), and worked in a laboratory for a bit which I loved (the team work aspect and feeling like I was doing something that was making a difference). However, pay was poor. I then moved into healthcare writing but found I oscillated between being bored and unmotivated or stressed and overwhelmed. I hated working from home and having to go on Zoom meetings with senior people from all over the world and present my work and deal with pushy project managers who wanted everything done ASAP with no budget or capacity to do so.

I am open to absolutely everything, but want to earn around £30,000 as that's what I was earning in my previous role, but willing to take a cut for the right thing. I think I'd prefer a role that was around people in person, as I struggle without the external structure. Working from home was bad for my mental health.

I've considered nursing, accountancy, law, pharma, teaching. Does anyone have any advice or if you have a similar personality to me, what do you do?

OP posts:
h3ll0o · 13/06/2023 17:08

I’m going against the grain and recommending teaching. As a quiet, intelligent autistic I love it. There are lots of jobs, such as a Specialist Tutor in HE, that focus on delivering one-to-one tutorials with the odd group workshop. As a Specialist Tutor you’d teach academic skills to autistic students and those with an SPLD.

A needs assessor would also work. You’d carry out one-to-one appointments with disabled students to recommend additional support for their studies. The rest of the time you’d write up reports based on the meetings you’ve had. The salary is usually £35,000-£40,000

PurplePear7 · 13/06/2023 17:13

Badbadbunny · 12/06/2023 14:58

Accountancy isn't a bad call really, particularly tax work. I've been an accountant for 40 years this Summer. I've worked with lots of quiet/introverted colleagues. It's definitely a career where being a little different, for whatever reason, doesn't seem to be a problem. There are so many different roles you can specialise in and usually lots of "backroom" roles where you can have a pretty quiet life supporting the more outgoing colleagues in technical roles etc if you don't want to do too much client facing roles or presentations, etc. Get into a decent sized firm as a trainee, and then you can start to see what kind of area you'd prefer to specialise in as the years pass and you get more exams under your belt. The common path is to start in audit and then move to different depts, although there are usually other entry points such as tax compliance but then you'd probably be staying in tax roles, whereas starting in audit is more flexible and opens doors to lots of different roles.

I’m not sure I agree.. Tax exams are grim and there’s no let up from work while you’re studying. Then there’s the 80 hour weeks in December/January 😬 I’d say most people I’ve worked with have been seriously burnt out at some stage in their career - me included!

Accountants are under pressure just now because everyone’s leaving and they can’t recruit grads.

Maybe if you work at a small firm it’s ok though!

Olderandolder · 13/06/2023 18:25

Accountancy is good for this

Olderandolder · 13/06/2023 18:28

Badbadbunny · 12/06/2023 14:58

Accountancy isn't a bad call really, particularly tax work. I've been an accountant for 40 years this Summer. I've worked with lots of quiet/introverted colleagues. It's definitely a career where being a little different, for whatever reason, doesn't seem to be a problem. There are so many different roles you can specialise in and usually lots of "backroom" roles where you can have a pretty quiet life supporting the more outgoing colleagues in technical roles etc if you don't want to do too much client facing roles or presentations, etc. Get into a decent sized firm as a trainee, and then you can start to see what kind of area you'd prefer to specialise in as the years pass and you get more exams under your belt. The common path is to start in audit and then move to different depts, although there are usually other entry points such as tax compliance but then you'd probably be staying in tax roles, whereas starting in audit is more flexible and opens doors to lots of different roles.

exactly this.

I do this too. It works well

Baldieheid · 13/06/2023 18:33

Could you do something within the police, perhaps, that built on your research skills. I'm thinking forensics, be that on-site stuff or lab based stuff?

BobbitWorm · 13/06/2023 18:40

I am a shy, autistic and intelligent girl. I have found it hard and changed careers due to burn out.

Have you considered one of the health/dental regulators? Policy or quality assurance? It's what I do now and with my supportive team, after a period of adjustment I am starting to thrive.

Heronatemygoldfish · 13/06/2023 19:03

Clinical scientist? Biomedical ones do lab work, and it's useful, starting salary as a trainee is band 5 so starts at £28,407 and ups to £30k after 2 years and £34.5k after 4. Portable too - any hospital!

If this is what you already did in a lab though, forgive me!

QueenCoconut · 13/06/2023 20:38

Also medical photography is in demand now due to teledermatology being rolled out. Taking pictures of skin lesions and submitting them for analysis by doctors. NHS work.
medical photographers take fairly good salaries - I’ve attended a seminar recently about how you can become one and from memory if you are in a health related role already with a close enough degree they would train you up or you take a one year course at Uni. You could Google it or email your nearest. NHS medical photography department for advice. They are desperate for people.

greyhairnomore · 13/06/2023 21:31

Nursing but 3 years training, lots of different roles and areas.
Project management?

greyhairnomore · 13/06/2023 21:36

Nurses have to pay to train now , if that would affect your decision?
Police ? MI5 ?

Singleandproud · 13/06/2023 21:45

Avoid nursing, law and teaching at all costs. My ASD DD gets 'all peopled out' very quickly and I'd say they would be 3 of the worst industries for her to go into not mentioning the noise in both teaching and nursing.

Look into DEFRA group jobs, Environment Agency, APHA, Natural England, Cefas.

All science based and have a strong culture focused on well being and very Neurodivergent friendly. Lots and lots of internal movement, 6-2 year 'try before you apply' temporary posts to gain experience where you can go back to your original post.

Grade 5 £37 k - technical advisor or line management duties
Grade 4 £29k - a more technical role but still entry grade if you have prior experience
Grade 3 £25k - entry level great to learn about the business

Alternatively other Civil Service groups and particularly GCHQ were doing a female, autistic recruitment drive recently.

Original poster
imthewor · 14/06/2023 14:13

I like the idea of being a clinical scientist but it's sooo difficult to get into. I applied for the NHS STP and got shortlisted but missed out on an interview, there was something like 20 posts and I ranked 27.

At the moment I'm still leaning towards nursing, most likely children's nursing, or one of the allied health professions.

OP posts:
weightogetthere · 14/06/2023 14:18

Have you considered chemical compliance with a company like (but probably not) Unilever? It's very detail focussed and you can be as autonomous as you like if you get in with a small company? I've fallen into this area of work and the pay isn't a million miles off what you'd like.

Heronatemygoldfish · 15/06/2023 20:47

Op have you thought of getting into STP by the in-service route? Apply for a lab assistant role and then they can apply on your behalf if they want you, to get you in that way. I'm not biomedical but that happens a lot with the STP physicists.

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