Aspies For Freedom

I love that I have so many great interests, but sometimes I tend to question if I have really gotten anything out of them? Definately nothing on the job front. I'm a firm believer in the "do what you love" philosophy. But at 28 years old I'm beginning to wonder if that's ever possible.

I can't keep a job. I have trouble finding jobs. The jobs I get make me feel worthless and dumb. Embarrassed and alone. I'm left after a day of work too tired and achy (I have such extreme fatigue - possible CFS? -- and back pain as well) to pursue my many interests. I'm at work far away from my interests. I've had to sneak in books and Sudoku puzzles into work just to keep my brain alive. I always find myself saying: "...if only I can get paid to do this" when speaking of a particular interest. I have goals I seem to not be able to achieve.

I quit my job at Burger King over the summer. After a year there enough was enough. it was literally killing me. I took the rest of this summer pondering my life. In 12th grade of high school I was working fast food and some years after that yet another fast food job and here I was quitting yet another fast food job. I've worked retail and that's just as bad, as I can't deal with people. And I can't help but wonder I ended up like that? Why this vicious cycle? Why can't I pursue my interests? I was an honor student in school, gifted student (although my parents didn't enroll me in gifted class when I was in 5th grade because they were afraid of me being made fun of - I was already the "class nerd" then). My high school teachers gave me the "most likely to succeed" label..So how did I end up being nothing but another fast food worker?

I've been out of work too long now. I need to pay my share of the rent and bills. Tomorrow is yet another day of job hunting...but where do I go?

I'm lost.

Has anyone had the luck of turning their interest into a career?

Anyone get frustrated when you can't pursue your interest/s?

I know what you mean. I've just started a job about a month ago and I have since found that I have no time to pursue my particular inetrests although paradoxically I need the money from work to continue persuing it. It really frustrates me.

Also my interests are pretty mainstream so there are plenty of people more qualified than me to get the few jobs they provide.

If your interests are rare then I am sure there will be a job for you.

You should get yourself checked about your CFS.

Make a list of your skills.  They could be typing speed, computer knowledge, math skills, filing or organizing, repairing furniture, whatever you can and have done.  

Make another list of your interests.  Do you have skills that match up to your interests?  Could you develop skills that involve your interest that would be marketable?  Where and how could you get training or experience with this skills?  

I have talked to some people who suggest that I volunteer with a company to work for a few months so they might hire me later.  It is risky but it might be worth it.  Actually I think it is exploitive but less boring than working at dead-end-I-hate-it-here-where-is-my-pay-cheque.

No, you are not the only one.

The problem isn't you, though. The problem is that the society you exist in does not want to accomodate you. Square peg and round hole stuff.

Yes, of course. I'd also say that jobs in the fast food industry would not be suitable for most Aspies.

Is there any way of getting into admin work instead? I suppose you'd be up against the problem that most admin jobs are advertised for juniors but maybe there could be an opening somewhere.

Are there any disability job placement agencies that could help? We have these in Australia but I don't know whether they exist in other countries.

Oh no. I tried making a list of simple skills and I really couldn't find any. No computer skills. I took computer classes in school. But never even owned my own computer. Still to this day. My internet source is a WebTV. I barely know how to turn on a computer heh. My brother is the computer genius. I'm the artistic one. I've realized my skills are far far "out there". Fast fod and retail is all I've ever known. I have plenty of skills but none match any job descriptions you'd see in the paper - same with interests.

Try your hand at a few conventional things and see if any can incite some interest.

I am a CPA by profession.  Never in a million years, when I was younger, would I have told you I would have this job.  But, I like it.  It's like solving number puzzles all day.  Pretty basic number puzzles, but still number puzzles.

Try an accounting class at a local junior college or night school.  It's amazing how many people find they can do the work.  And the pay isn't bad.

Oh, and an amazing percentage of accountants are artists in their free time, too.

It's only one idea, of course.  You could find your muse in court reporting, or any of a million other things.

You've set your sights far too low.  I STUNK at my first job, lower skill work, I really stunk.  But I when I got into higher skilled work, I shined.

If you don't have the degree, get it.  Invest in your life.  It's time.

I am wondering if some agency like GoodWill would help you get some job placement.

Thanks guys.

I'm thinking about taking up writing again. I was pretty successful back in the day, although I never got paid for any publication, but it's the fact I have been published. I graduated from a writing course that I worked on when I was a senior high school and then went on to publish a lot of poetry (although the course was in short story writing). After a depression from a job I was working at the time I quit writing. Being away from my writing caused a great writers block and I just gave up. Few years later I took up the bass guitar and I've been interested in that for the past 6 years. I've been paid (almost a grand this past spring for being in a musical). I've been trying to teach but with all my advertising I cannot find students.

I'm pretty torn between the two.

When I find a part-time job I was thinking of taking a correspondence course on something again. I do well with at-home courses. I feel organized and I can do things at my own pace. And, being I don't drive, I don't have to leave the house and worry if the buses run at the right time.

Yes, because I think it is such as waste with your talents that you would have been stuck with fast food jobs (I know some of them might be okay but probably not too good for Aspie people).

I don't know many things to suggest but have you thought of tutoring? As a good writer, you might be able to tutor students who need some help with English classes. It would be fantastic if you could get a position as an Art Tutor but I don't know if there would be much money in it; it would be more for personal satisfaction.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

Unfortunately I have to think of the present and not the future. The reality of the present is that the rent is due in just less than a few weeks. Yes. There are so many things I can possibly do. But the reality of it is it's not going to make me money tomorrow. My boyfriend and my parents are worried about me finding a job. They don't understand. But I understand their worry. I'm crumbling under the pressure. That's why I'm afraid I will probably have to go back to work at Burger King, dare I even say that wretched title. I dread going there. Maybe in the meantime I can find some help and take a course. Although I always say that when I get a job and it never happens. I have to try though. Time is getting short.

I definately do not fit in with the "real world".

1) art tutor:  I forget where you live but some adult education programs offer art classes.  the cool thing about adult ed. is that you don't have to have a degree to teach.  the bad thing is they don't pay real well.

2) trying other professions/trades:  See if you can take an aptitude test at a job-placement center or online, that gives you an idea what people do in different jobs.  my tech college has one (supposed to be for their students), but if you can't find one for free, PM me and I will send you the link and the access code...

Hi guys...

I've tried to get jobs at music stores but it's been hopeless. A few years ago I moved (not where I'm living now) into a house that was just up the street from a music store. The first thing I did when I moved in was to head to that store. Asked for a job there. Asked if they needed a bass teacher (they offered lessons as well). I swear I wasn't taken seriously. I don't know if it was because I looked too young (I look quite young for my age) or because I was a girl (I don't want to think that. I'm in no way a feminisit but I do sometimes feel I get overlooked). If the owner didn't need anyone he would have told me right then but instead he took down my phone number and I never heard from him again.

I take bass lessons at a music store. The most popular one in the city. They never seem to get new employees though. New teachers here and there. But it's always just the 2 owners that work the register or one of the kids that does guitar repairs. They've all been there forever. And I've been going there for 6 years.

There aren't any book stores in my area really. Just the Book Swap down the street. But they never hire. It's been the same old woman working there since I was young. Then there's Borders. But I don't drive and I don't have a way there (I'd have to cross a busy highway even if I got a bus close by). I love Borders too. I don't know how I'd handle working at a big chain bookstore though. And the malls here don't have bookstores anymore.

No antique shops around here either.

I have obsessions and addiction to video games. It doesn't matter to anyone in my family really, and they think that it wouldn't get me anything. Despite the fact that video games are a popular product, that I'm very creative and have many plot ideas, and that groups do get payed for that stuff. My dad thinks that doctors are practicaly the only ones that get well payed. The stress of a doctors job isn't worth it for me, unless people don't have to socialise much in there.

People generaly don't think I can do anything in a talented way. The only things I had compliments and suggestions about, which is extremly rare in my life mine you, is that I should be more of a writer. I'm working on a fantasy thing right now, but my concience nagging and shoveing me "get a job! get job!" every minutes I'm awake makes me feel like I'm insane! i'm going nuts with the preasure of thinking that it's my life's purpose to display money earnings to my parents. Not a great feeling.

My interests have little value in my life to. It's not a great feeling, but I long ago accepted the idea that somethings aren't meant to be, even if we love doing it.

Try Vocational Training... in the US, states are required to provide vocational training and placement for people on the Autistic Spectrum...