Aspies For Freedom

I recently wrote this description of my typical work history in a private e-mail and thought I would ask if anyone has experienced the same or simular:

My usual history with employers (I go electronics/machining) usually goes something like this.  I get hired, go to work and start in training.  I learn very fast, and in many cases start teaching the trainer things they didn't know.  The Employer is impressed, puts me to work and within no time I get to the point I am a trainer myself.  I observe the others around me and start to learn there jobs as well, including my supervisors job so that I can mesh what I'm doing with what they are doing, making us more efficient as a group.  My employers are further impressed and start to move me up the ladder.  Eventually I get to point where I have to deal with people more than I deal with hardware and automated machinery.  Next thing I know I've made some faux pau that no one will enlighten me about or the folks I'm working with just feel uncomfortable around me (quiet, "brooding", "intense", are descriptives I hear often) and the company is trying to find ways to "bad vibe" me out of the company.

Grrr, your employers annoy me!  I need patient instruction to learn new skills and have never been very good at training or supervising anyone, even after 19 years on the same job.  If I were a boss, I'd hire you!  I wonder what's wrong with being quiet and intense on the job...as for "brooding," that is their assumption.  Maybe they "feel" that you are unapproachable or hostile just because you don't socialize around the office in the way the rest of them do.  If your bosses won't enlighten you about what you are doing "wrong" in terms of social behavior, they are neglecting their responsibility to the company in my opinion, and should get some courage and just tell you what you need to know, instead of letting a dedicated worker get away.  Better luck in the future...

I'd be totally up front and honest with them (especially the hiring manager).

This could involve disclosing your condition (if you haven't already done so) or just saying that dealing with people directly is not your strong point.

This would enable them to understand and provide feedback as you go along, i.e. provide support.

I'd also ask for feedback on an ongoing basis so that you can address any issues early. Doing so would also reduce the personal pressure you may feel and make you less anxious.

Why don't they just leave you at the job you were at?

Against my better judgement I did disclose as soon as I arrived, then remided my supervisor, manager, and human resources when it started to hit the fan.  The only difference it made was that rumors started to fly about my "condition" and I wound up on the loosing end of an internal political conflict with a lady who saw my social weekness as an expoitable thing she could use to get rid of me and move into my position.

It wouldn't be so bad, but this is a repeated pattern (with the notable exception of disclosure), not just a one-off.

Overall I think the situation at this last employer is more indicative of the quality of the company than anything else.  To this company HR is there not to help the relations between management and workers as it is to do what it thinks it has to to keep the company from getting sued.  Honestly I'm glad to be away from there.  My next attempt will be to get into an appreticeship to be an Electrician.  Once journey level is achieved I would be making almost twice what I was making before, be working with no or limited supervision and have limited exposure to the public.

Because that didn't fit with thier mangagement paradigm.  If the recomendations and reviews warrant it, they move you up.  If you stay in the same place too long, your pay increases over time push you over what they want to pay for the lower level position, hence they get rid of you to make their budget targets.

At least in the public service they don't mind too much if we sit in the same position for ages. I've been at the top increment at my level for years because I haven't found anything I really want to apply for in the way of promotions.

I don't know what the situation is overseas but tradies are in desperately short supply in Australia so becoming an electrician is probably a good idea.

Not sure if I'd be so quick to disclose anything to strangers.  Aspergers is generally not well understood and I don't think you would be treated fairly.  Better to start a Job and do things as well as you can.  As you make friends in the job and gain trust, you could let them know.

I usually find it better/easier to discuss my actual problems or symptoms of AS rather than to disclose that I have AS...  It seems that most people either have an incorrect idea of what AS is OR don't have the slightest idea what it is at all. Either way people understand, "I have a hard time understanding people and am REALLY great at detail and mechanics" better than "I have Asperger's Syndrome, a persuasive developmental disorder..."

But I guess it really depends on how you want to handle things...