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Junior Member
Member Since Nov 2019
Location: Lala-Land
Posts: 17
4 |
#1
I'm really nervous about employment. I've so far filled out a few applications for nearby entry-level jobs, and while working doesn't bother me, it's dealing with people. Do you guys have any advice or tips for those who are socially anxious? Either being coping skills and communication skills to pass on?
Kind of jobs I'm looking at are grocery stores as a bagger or cashier, just for reference. __________________ finding comfort in what little I have |
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Discombobulated, WovenGalaxy
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Legendary
Member Since Sep 2019
Location: Portland
Posts: 12,681
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#2
Well, if you are in the retail world, you will be dealing with people by definition. What about something, like, in a warehouse setting or something? Where there are fewer people.
I also was just wondering if you might also post something about this in the Anxiety forum? You might get more feedback there specific to anxiety issues. Just a thought. In any event, I wish you luck. It is really great that you are taking this step. Good for you!! __________________ When I was a kid, my parents moved a lot, but I always found them--Rodney Dangerfield |
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Discombobulated
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Posts: n/a
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#3
Saddy my nephew has autism and he'll never be able to work with people. He loves computers, so he'll probably get a computer-related job where he's by himself or with only a few people around him.
Is your autism closer to Asperger's then there are a few tips for the types of jobs where you will feel more comfortable: tip 1: the job has a well-explained goal tip 2: your boss should have experience with hiring/managing people with autism/asperger's tip 3: job should have a low-demand on the autistic/asperger's memory/ability to remember steps or tasks WORST JOBS FOR AUTISM/ASPERGER'S Cashier -- making change quickly puts too much demand on short-term working memory Short order cook -- Have to keep track of many orders and cook many different things at the same time Waitress -- Especially difficult if have to keep track of many different tables Casino dealer -- Too many things to keep track of Taxi dispatcher -- Too many things to keep track of Taking oral dictation -- Difficult due to auditory processing problems Airline ticket agent -- Deal with angry people when flights are cancelled Future market trader -- Totally impossible Air traffic controller -- Information overload and stress Receptionist and telephone operator -- Would have problems when the switch board got busy Good Jobs for Visual Thinkers Computer programming -- Wide-open field with many jobs available especially in industrial automation, software design, business computers, communications and network systems Drafting -- Engineering drawings and computer aided drafting. This job can offer many opportunities. Drafting is an excellent portal of entry for many interesting technical jobs. I know people who started out at a company doing drafting and then moved into designing and laying out entire factories. To become really skilled at drafting, one needs to learn how to draw by hand first. I have observed that most of the people who draw beautiful drawings on a computer learned to draw by hand first. People who never learn to draw by hand first tend to leave important details out of their drawings. Commercial art -- Advertising and magazine layout can be done as freelance work Photography -- Still and video, TV cameraman can be done as freelance work Equipment designing -- Many industries, often a person starts as a draftsman and then moves into designing factory equipment Animal trainer or veterinary technician -- Dog obedience trainer, behavior problem consultant Automobile mechanic -- Can visualize how the entire car works Computer-troubleshooter and repair -- Can visualize problems in computers and networks Small appliance and lawnmower repair -- Can make a nice local business Handcrafts of many different types such as wood carving, jewelry making, ceramics, etc. Laboratory technician -- Who modifies and builds specialized lab equipment Web page design -- Find a good niche market can be done as freelance work Building trades -- Carpenter or welder. These jobs make good use of visual skills but some people will not be able to do them well due to motor and coordination problems. Video game designer -- Stay out of this field. Jobs are scarce and the field is overcrowded. There are many more jobs in industrial, communications business and software design computer programming. Another bad thing about this job is exposure to violent images. Computer animation -- Visual thinkers would be very good at this field, but there is more competition in this field than in business or industrial computer programming. Businesses are recruiting immigrants from overseas because there is a shortage of good programmers in business and industrial fields. Building maintenance -- Fixes broken pipes, windows and other things in an apartment complex, hotel or office building Factory maintenance -- Repairs and fixes factory equipment Good Jobs for Non-Visual Thinkers: Those who are good at math, music or facts Accounting -- Get very good in a specialized field such as income taxes Library science -- reference librarian. Help people find information in the library or on the Internet. Computer programming -- Less visual types can be done as freelance work Engineering -- Electrical, electronic and chemical engineering Journalist -- Very accurate facts, can be done as freelance Copy editor -- Corrects manuscripts. Many people freelance for larger publishers Taxi driver -- Knows where every street is Inventory control -- Keeps track of merchandise stocked in a store Tuning pianos and other musical instruments, can be done as freelance work Laboratory technician -- Running laboratory equipment Bank Teller -- Very accurate money counting, much less demand on short-term working memory than a busy cashier who mostly makes change quickly Clerk and filing jobs -- knows where every file is Telemarketing -- Get to repeat the same thing over and over, selling on the telephone. Noisy environment may be a problem. Telephone sales avoids many social problems. Statistician -- Work in many different fields such as research, census bureau, industrial quality control, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, etc. Physicist or mathematician -- There are very few jobs in these fields. Only the very brilliant can get and keep jobs. Jobs are much more plentiful in computer programming and accounting. Jobs for Nonverbal People with Autism or People with Poor Verbal Skills Reshelving library books -- Can memorize the entire numbering system and shelf locations Factory assembly work -- Especially if the environment is quiet Copy shop -- Running photocopies. Printing jobs should be lined up by somebody else Janitor jobs -- Cleaning floors, toilets, windows and offices Restocking shelves -- In many types of stores Recycling plant -- Sorting jobs Warehouse -- Loading trucks, stacking boxes Lawn and garden work -- Mowing lawns and landscaping work Data entry -- If the person has fine motor problems, this would be a bad job Fast food restaurant -- Cleaning and cooking jobs with little demand on short-term memory Plant care -- Water plants in a large office building source: Choosing the Right Job for People with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome |
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bpcyclist
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Discombobulated, WovenGalaxy, zapatoes
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Grand Magnate
Member Since Jan 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 3,260
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#4
Quote:
To keep in mind that every person on the planet is concerned with their own 'stuff'--their own worries, concerns, problems and most are so focused on that/those that they are not in a frame of mind to criticize you. I appreciate a bagger who takes a look at the person whose stuff they are bagging and at the stuff they have purchased and bags accordingly. I once had a gal put a raw, dripping package of chicken into a bag with a mesh bag of fresh apples. Yikes! So unsafe and unsanitary. Many young men will bag all my canned goods together. I'm an old woman, I am no longer able to carry a 10-20 lb bag. I finally said something to one of the guys and he (and the checker) said, enthusiastically: "Yeah! Canned goods with canned goods!!" And I said, "Please, not for an old woman!!" So you want to abide by your company's rules (and they will have rules about bagging) but you want to be sensitive to the customer (so they will come back). When the interviewer asks, "What will you bring to this job?" you can say: "A willingness to learn. An ability to take constructive criticism. A desire to please the customer so she she/he returns to shop again and again. A desire to be a team player--to be helpful to my fellow employees and supervisor. Timeliness: I show up on time." If you can add a nice firm but not tight handshake, a friendly smile and a listening posture with some direct eye contact while the other person speaks, even better<-- right there is all you need for entry-level work -- and work in general, if you ask me. As an employer I am not worried about someone being socially awkward, or having autism, or having a mental health problem, or having a physical health problem or having zero experience--I have hired and supervised all kinds of people along those lines. So go into your job hunt with the attitude that if the place is advertising entry level positions they won't expect you to have CEO-level experience, and you don't need to disclose all your personal stuff (frankly, most of what people have as personal challenges shows, anyway, to the person who is compassionately looking)--you only need to have the mindset of what I have put in bold type. Good luck! The fact that you cared enough to ask this question shows you are the kind of employee I would want to hire. |
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John25, WovenGalaxy
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Legendary Wise Elder
Member Since Jun 2016
Location: Where the sidewalk ends
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#5
I am also autistic and I have social anxiety. I have a great job in the receiving department of a retail store. Zero customer interaction. You are just working with a few other people but you still have your own little area. They expect very little out of you and with my retail experience it is a breeze taking a few days or a week off to go on vacation. This type of job is really all I can do with my lack of social skills and general anxiety.
And there are many, many stores with open positions in their receiving departments. __________________ Ridin' with Biden |
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Discombobulated, WovenGalaxy
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Grand Magnate
Member Since Apr 2013
Location: Ontario Land
Posts: 3,568
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#6
I work full-time with a diagnosis of GAD and ASD. What helped me thrive was finding work that suited my abilities and personality. I did a lot of introspection and realized that manufacturing was probably the best fit for me. It turned out to be the right choice.
It is a lot easier to fake it through if you enjoy your job and get along with your colleagues. I have noticed that a lot of my colleagues like making small talk. I make an effort to go along with it even though I don't feel like talking about the weather etc... I find ways to escape when I have enough. What also helped me succeed was finding a job that appeals to people who have similar personality traits and interests. It has helped me tremendously with conversation and socializing. What are you interested? Perhaps you can combine it with retail work? E.g., gaming, working at EB Games General advice: Be yourself, show interest in your colleagues, and be friendly. __________________ Dx: Didgee Disorder |
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WovenGalaxy
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Magnate
Member Since Sep 2019
Location: Earth
Posts: 2,856
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#7
Saddy, I can relate because I have social anxiety and will be looking for a job in 2020. Thanks for posting this, as one person said, it shows you care and want to do well.
Everyone's answers helped me as well. |
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Discombobulated
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Discombobulated
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