[The_little_didgee]

A recent job search has brought up so many unpleasant emotions. I thought, I was doing the right thing, but all it did was profoundly hurt me. I realized that my introverted, reserved and highly sensitive personality is not desired by employers. For example on place asked me to do an online test that basically filtered out my ASD traits which makes up a lot of who I am. This was for a grocery clerk position.

I recently realized that I am not even desired in the machining world, because I am quiet. This was a major disappointment, especially since I am starting a 24 month long training course in tool and die in another city in September. I have an innate talent for this trade. My talent has been noticed, but because I am quiet and socially awkward I get overlooked.

People seem to go out of their way to impede me. They always find my weaknesses (Eg. my social skills) and rub them in so hard. Then they wonder why I am very cautious and bitter. This is how it has always been.

What jobs are suitable for quiet people who have ASD? Am I just wasting my time moving to southern Ontario to train as a toolmaker?

I wonder if I should just return to university and finish my degree.

[healingme4me]

Would your college give you the chance to work with career counselors to aid you in seeking the right fit for employment?

I once had a job lined up for customer service then had the rug pulled out my starting day because of perceptions of being quiet, which I am. Oddly, I've since worked a variety of jobs where that's actually one of my finer points, loads of positive feedback through the years. I know how to listen. Customer service isn't sales, ya know?

I hate it when employers give tests. They really don't mean much. I literally occilate on the Introvert/Extrovert scale. :\

I don't know if that helps. I loathe being boxed in and categorized.

Well, I posed your question to my husband, who has ASD, is introverted and works in manufacturing.

He says that the work of a good tool and die maker will sell and speak for itself. Whether you are accepted for your traits or not largely depends on the shop, and the culture there. As long as you plan on staying in that part of the country where there is still demand for tool and die makers, you should stick with it.

[seesaw]

I think you could work with a career counselor to learn how to sell yourself in the interview.

[The_little_didgee]

Thank you all for the replies. I appreciate it. Usually people don't respond to my threads.

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Would your college give you the chance to work with career counselors to aid you in seeking the right fit for employment?

The program has an 8 month co-op placement. There is a course that we must take in the first semester that is all about looking for work. I will have to ask about 'hidden' disabilities. I need assistance with this, because I don't really have any idea how to go about finding work without embarrassing myself.


I'm hoping there is a company that will hire a quiet lady.

Originally Posted by healingme4me

I once had a job lined up for customer service then had the rug pulled out my starting day because of perceptions of being quiet, which I am. Oddly, I've since worked a variety of jobs where that's actually one of my finer points, loads of positive feedback through the years. I know how to listen. Customer service isn't sales, ya know?

I hate it when employers give tests. They really don't mean much. I literally occilate on the Introvert/Extrovert scale. :\

I don't know if that helps. I loathe being boxed in and categorized.

How has your quiet disposition helped besides being a good listener?

It seems like people only appreciate bubbly smiley people who ooze confidence. Grrrrrrr. I refuse to fake it, because it isn't me. Faking was one of the main reasons I got sick.

I won't ever apply to jobs that require medicals and psych tests ever. I refuse to expose my psych history. Applying to that grocery store chain was the one and only time I experienced that. It was an IBM retail test.

I'm good one on one and can provide decent customer service. I get referrals for clock repairs and have to interact with the customers. They seem to like me and don't mind my quarks.

Last year I tried working in a watch repair shop. It was just a trial. My job was to work on clocks, that is it. I told the owner that I was not suitable for serving customers, which he appeared okay with. My job was to fix clocks at one of the benches. He had me take apart plastic quartz movements to fix them. That was tolerable. What I didn't like were all the people coming and going. It made it impossible to work.

I showed up for a second day and was told that I needed to smile and be cheery. I'm not very expressive with strangers. I thought, I was just there to help with his backlog of clock repairs, not serving customers. My muted affect apparently was a big problem for him.

Originally Posted by Tortie

Well, I posed your question to my husband, who has ASD, is introverted and works in manufacturing.

He says that the work of a good tool and die maker will sell and speak for itself. Whether you are accepted for your traits or not largely depends on the shop, and the culture there. As long as you plan on staying in that part of the country where there is still demand for tool and die makers, you should stick with it.

I'm hoping my talent will help me out, that someone will see beyond my introverted nature.

I have visited a variety of shops. There was one that I really liked and was able to see myself working there. The people were nice and it was a small place. Another place I visited wasn't suitable. They mostly hired people off the street. One didn't need to have any machining skills at all. All that was required was a background in construction, which was a surprise to me. Most places want people with education and skills. E.g. read drawings and use precision measuring tools.

Originally Posted by seesaw

I think you could work with a career counselor to learn how to sell yourself in the interview.

I hope to get some assistance from the college with this. Right now I feel like all my traits are not desired by anyone.

I'm with a company that is funded by the province. Since I am moving, I will be closing my file shortly. I have given up on the job search anyways. There is no point, now.

The agency has not been very helpful, mostly because I have no qualifications to apply for more suitable work. Ottawa is a government city. There isn't much manufacturing jobs here. Toolmaker and general machinist apprenticeships are very rare finds here. The only type of work I am qualified for is retail, which I am obviously not suited for. Even my psychiatrist agrees with me on this.

[88Butterfly88]

In my area there are state agencies that will help those with a developmental disability find a job. Not sure where you live but this is something worth looking into.

[healingme4me]

In regards to benefits of having a quiet disposition? I'm good with kids as well as animals.
The reason why listening from being quiet helps in customer service is that I can tap into what the customer is asking/saying and let them feel heard etc.
And if you're looking at factory work, most jobs one needs to keep the hands busy and truly though many people can walk and chew gum-being an adept conversationalist seems a bit moot on a factory line.

If that were to come up again in an interview, ask them what they mean by quiet? Is it something else?

[The_little_didgee]

I'm 40 and feel like a loser, a third class citizen. My work experience is very limited. How do I explain this?

My experience is very limited due to psychiatric illness. I had depression in my teens and first episode psychosis in my mid 20s, which put my life on hold. It actually killed my self-esteem and I receded from life. I have recovered. Now, I struggle with bad GAD and social anxiety, with periods of MDD.

Rant:


When I attended the last interview, the man didn't want to know anything about my skills. He was interested in what community activities, volunteer work and sports teams that I belonged to. Naturally I closed off. He then proceeded to ask me if I had any construction experience. Actually I do in home renovation. I assisted my friend for a few summers in his drywall business. I mostly did taping and painting. I know he asked me this because he wanted to determine if me (a lady who is on the petite side) could get dirty, work in a machine shop and deal with guys who say **** every third or forth word. Come on! All this to just deburr parts in a production machine shop for the summer?

Do I have to look like a butch to get noticed in this trade?

This petite lady can install drywall, do plumbing, fix anything mechanical and do delicate machining. I can do mechanical drafting and have even invented some specialized tooling that I hope to one day sell. I manufactured my own prototype. But..........None of this is good enough for a socially awkward introverted lady with a serious side. I always get overlooked for the less talented more confident person.



This is one of the most passionate posts I have ever written.

[88Butterfly88]

Since you also have mental illness looking for DDMI (developmental disability mental illness) employment services may be even better.

It is harder for women in manufacturing, and it will take you longer, but you will find your niche.

Mr.Tortie works in a shop that is women-friendly, and allows for a lot of personality quirks as long as you show up and do your job. It took him a long time to find such a place, but they do exist. We wish you the very best, and we look forward to reading more of your journey.