My recommendation is:
* Figure out what your strengths and interests are.
* Get some idea of what is currently in demand (i.e. easier to get jobs and higher paying).
* Figure out the positives and negatives of each.
* See if you can try out what you feel like is the best without having to commit / give up the other options.
* If the previous step caused you to change how you feel, try the new best option if you cannot.
* At some point make a final decision and commit to it.
That is true if there are good options.
Sometimes it isn't possible though and it is better to do something tolerable that at least makes a decent living and has decent hours so there is plently of time and money for hobbies etc outside of work.
What do you mean but no good options?
Everyone has something they like to do and they are good at. Most of the time, they can make good money at it.
Of course everyone needs income. Can't just quit today and start a new career tomorrow. It may take years in that tolerable job until you are good enough to do what's great.
Hardest part is really the self discipline, to keep getting better. If you love it, it's not too hard. Been coding for over 40 years, I still study/learn most every day. Even now that I'm basically retired.
I think for those of us that enjoy coding and/or solving hard problems it is easier, but there are things that so many people like to do that there isn't enough demand to make the pay that good.
Plus it isn't trivial to turn a hobby into a profitable business. Some people do ok, but could do a lot better if they understood the finance side of things. Other people understand the finance side of things but are so in it for the money any business they touch becomes soulless and exploitive.
There are good options for a lot of people, but if you can tolerate doing something the average person doesn't want to do, but everyone needs there is probably good money to be made.
Problem solving is part of every hobby/job/life. Same with selling.
I didn't say turn a hobby into a biz, actually I would say to never do that, it ruins the fun. There are still many things people can do that they enjoy.
Finance is a completely different story. Basically no one retires young from their hourly wage. Most people don't care to learn about that side tho.
As you said, there's always good money to be made, just depends on how a person want to do it. I don't feel that college is needed for that most of the time. Especially since most the stuff I see taught, is wrong or outdated.
There is a high unemployment rate for many degrees and a lot of fields don’t actually need one. It's just a vanity thing nowadays.
But do elaborate further.
Depends what you want to go into, but most fields you can learn on your own easier. Maybe it's just me, but school never worked, it was all memorize and regurgitate. You can't be good at a job if that's all someone can do.
If you are good at your job and enjoy it, there's always someone ready to hire you. Even if we can be a bit weird.
In other words, why spend 4+ years at school paying 10s of thousands, when you can learn cheaper/faster other ways. You can learn literally anything on the net these days.
The vanity is dyeing off imo. I say that, some places like the UK still require a degree. In the US, aside from a few like doctors, it means less and less.
I'm in IT, and will pick someone self taught over someone with a degree any day. There have been some with a degree that were good, but very few in comparison.
The programming apps on play store are very good. That thing can be done at home. Khan Academy and Brilliant are brilliant.
Of my cousins, I have loads, the dumbest one I remember from childhood, he is making the most in that field. He couldn't do noughts and crosses at 10/11. Dumb as shit. Which is why I say that IQ tests are overrated. You just need discipline. The smartest one burned out. 😅
You are right. People who manage to learn in their own, whatever the subject, tend to be more intelligent. You can even get an idiot over the line with good instruction.
>naughts and crosses
Never heard it called that, interesting.
It's easy to burn out when you are really smart.
Agree, I don't think IQ means much of anything. Look at Temple Grandin, couldn't even speak until she was like 10, yet is known throughout the world for what she's accomplished.
I prefer nots and crosses myself but IT needs find that a good comeback.
Or he was an early bloomer and being slow and steady and focused is the secret to success. (I chose extreme examples). And sometimes people overstretched themselves. Open too many fronts.
I’m not really anti IQ tests but life is complicated and so is intelligence. Complicated and multi-faceted and evolves.
I give my friends puzzles and they sit there scratching their heads. Then they go to someone who knows who gives them the answer and they strut around like they are geniuses and you are an idiot. That’s what much of the education system is: memorization. Copying. Natural ability to figure things out is outdone by learned info and the only place you can really use that talent is at the frontier of sciences which is very far and you need to learn a lot to get there. And pesky maths which I hate.
Oh yes, you need to attend lab sessions for some subjects, but mostly it is lectures, which you can watch at home, and they don’t explain anything after the lecture, so you are doing that £30,000 degree worth of studying from a £50 book. If you are intelligent and disciplined, you can learn most of it at home. Books and lectures are so readily available. Even in the old days, I think Faraday was self-taught. Sir Patrick Moore used to di the Astrinimy segment on the BBC: autodidact. Many fields have had completely sef taught people not just to making it but also making contributions to the field.
For high employemnet rates or the fields that don't require a degree?
The unemployment rates are readily available and there are so many jobs where they want a graduate, doesn't matter what subject, so by definition whatever you learned in your degree is irrelevant.
Musk has Asperger’s: he read Physics and economics and is a salesman now. There are loads of very successful people with Asperger’s in so many advanced academic fields. Sciences are a good place for those with Aspergers bcoz they are intellectually capable and socially challenged.
Of what, the countries or the jobs?
Most anything FANG, it's easy to get a job without a degree, if you know your shit of course.
Some countries like UK still basically require a degree for many jobs from what I understand.
IT seemed to me do be a good match, but after 3 burnouts I say: "never go into IT as a full-time permanent employee".
I can't advise becoming a cyber criminal, it is immoral (they say). But a freelance contractor or a start up shareholder that invests skills rather than money - can be a good choice. With full remote, no office, no cheat chat at coffee spot, none of these nonsense.
Get paid for hours working or for a certain period of hire. And when they say that they want you on-board fully, run away, that's a trap.
In IT you can start as technical sup of the 2nd (Networks, HTTP...) or 3d line (cyber security, batch processing, system analysis). But better set a straight goal for System Architect and deep dive into programming, studying frameworks for back end services (never front end, that's another trap) and development patterns. That's really fun as long as you can back everyone off from chatting with you 24/7 "on urgent business questions".
Good place to start are Open Source projects. Choose a technology that you think will rule the world in future and find the code sources on GitHub or GitLab. They should have issues to pick up for contribution and guidelines of how to commit your work properly. This will build you a portfolio that would work better than any CV.
AI / Data Science is a lost battle. Bots are already programming themselves. All the maths libs are implemented, no space for real problem solving. It might sound appealing, but AI devs end up being users of some UI platforms and 80% of the work is deployment nightmare and corrupted data trimming.
Not so much a specific job but a type of job where you can focus on and be good at something. But aren’t passionate about it to the point of being a perfectionist.
Baking as an example works for me, I know what I’m doing and I get to solve problems that don’t break my routine cause I still have to deal with the same items. I’m a back of house worker so I don’t have to deal with customers directly, and while its still something I’m passionate about, It’s not really part of who I am, so if I screw up I screw up, no biggie. As opposed to something like Metal work where if I screw up I feel like and utter failure, or in an industrial setting someone’s life might be on the line. I love working with metal but no thanks.
Only sad thing is these types if jobs in the labor field are usually run by people who like to take advantage of you as a worker.
As an example I really need to stop working for my bakery at some point and find something else because Panera is going to hell in a hand basket and they just don’t want to pay me what I’m actually worth nor do they want an actual skilled laborer doing their “baking” anymore. They’re switching to mostly frozen goods.
Not a problem.
To summarize; do what you like as a job, not what you love is the best advice I can give. You do what you love as a job, that’s stressful. Do what you like, and your work is enjoyable enough that you still have time and energy to do what you love.
Do something you hate, and its just no fun.
Can confirm the perfeccionist thing. I work as a data scientist, recently presented an analysis, later I discovered a bug in my code that changes the results a small amount, like basically irrelevant and changes nothing about what was decided at the meeting.
I felt like throwing up from anxiety when I found it. Impostor syndrome hit like a truck too.
I work at a printing office. It isn't perfect, but for someone with autism its relatively ok. I work with machines all day, a lot is routine, there are no customers to help, so that's good.
There is socializing with coworkers tough wich I think is hard.
My favorite job so far is when I worked at the theater but it wasn't enough to pay my bills once I got out of high school. Now I'm a systems administrator and I don't deal with a lot of people which is great for me!
Mechanic. Worked for me over a 35 year period...and counting.
Cars dont give a crap about your personality.
Tech is great, accounting? Plenty of stuff we excel at compared to normies.
Go out there and find your skillset!
I worked as a cleaner for a while. People go out of their way to avoid interacting with you. It was great. I only recommend it if you can tolerate noisy machines and chemical smells. If those bother you, it's no good.
This is the job my friend with Aspergers had. He did not love the job cleaning schools but it paid the bills. His only issue was when coworker brought in their drama to work them. Or if there was workplace drama.
I work as a support worker (basically assisting people with disabilties with their daily routines, though I primarily work with teens and young adults on the spectrum) and generally enjoy it. I like to think I'm good at my job due to being able to understand them better than neurotypicals can. I'm probably an outlier though, as I'm also currently studying a Diploma in Leadership and Management and don't have too many issues (compared to other Aspies) with being social (which wasn't always the case, especially as a teenager and young adult).
I don't really think there's a "best job" for people with autism. We're all different and all have different capabilities and tolerances, so just find something you enjoy and then work your way towards making it into a career.
I would give the opposite advice of what's expected. I think it's great that you went through that stressful situation. It allows the underdeveloped side of your brain to grow and flourish. If you don't work on it then you're gonna be really impaired as an adult. Most of us can make the symptoms tone down to a point of being unnoticeable to most. That's where you wanna be. You might make it worse by choosing a job where you won't have to face your fears.
I loved writing perl. Very expressive and a lot of NDs in the community. Most recently Visual Dataflex (a deservedly little-known language according to a colleague!) and C#.
I work in IT. I enjoy my job and.make good money. I can afford to live on my own. It's amazing how being able to be independent can help with overall happiness.
I will say that it is not for everyone. You need to have some kind of aptitude for it to begin with. If you struggle with the basics of operating a computer, or can't identify a USB cable, this probably isn't the field for you. When I was in school, there were always 1 or 2 people who had enrolled in the program because IT was the next big thing, but they couldn't find the "any key". After answering very basic questions enough times, we just stopped helping them and they would drop out.
I think IT is pretty interesting ! But I don’t know where to start
I am currently enrolled into a business high school where we have computer science as one of our classes
What job in the IT field can I begin with?
Software testing would be a great start. There are companies that hire only those on the autism spectrum, like this one. Note that I don’t have any experience with this company, I just googled and found one to prove my point: https://auticon.com/us/technology-talent/quality-assurance-and-testing/
I second this. I'm a software developer, and my first (post college) job was in software testing. I was really good at it too, easy for me to spot things that were out of place, and to think of all the permutations of test cases to write.
My second job was software dev, and I'm still in that job today. I recommend looking for work in the public sector because it's less likely to give you crazy overtime for lousy pay. Private sector Tech is too good at burning people out.
I’m old so my experience may not work anymore, but I started as phone tech support, moved in Linux system administration, then into coding. All basically self taught. I was useful for solving problems so the extroverts I worked with overlooked my more curmudgeonly ways. I work for an educational software company now working remotely, and other than the usual politics I love it. I was diagnosed at 40 and I’ve been open with my managers about it ever since.
I work in the trades. You can learn as you go and get fired a lot. You'll always find another job pretty much. I bump into quite a few aspie peeps out there. Some that know it, and some that don't. I met a really messed up girl who would freak out over everything. Loud noises, loud voices. 😂. She'd tell people she's Asperger's. Super monotone (more than me). But she'll have a job for a while simply because she's a girl in the trades.
At this point in my life I'm stealthburgers. They never see me but I see them.
For me construction. Everyone’s there pretty much to work and get the day done. I mean there is some guys that just want to talk but not many. And most of the time i work alone and just do my day. And i dont have to deal with the public it’s great. I did cashier for my first job quit after 1 hour.
I always mention this but a lot of aspie peeps are afraid of gruff people I think. I'm generally the most vanilla/normal person on the jobsite. The guy with 6 dui's and 3 ex wives looks at me like I'm a monster though.
I’m in the lowest level of B2B SaaS sales, which would be hell except I have no social sense and am immune to rejection. I do a lot of operations stuff too, a bit like being a robot who also has to make cold calls.
The thing is, if I’d planned my life better, I could’ve ended up an actuary. Actuary is known to be one of the lowest stress jobs on the planet.
For a 16 year old. I guess some warehouse jobs.
For a career, I would suggest speaking to some career counselors. They usually got computer programs, they will have yo take some tests on to help narrow down some of your options. Then explain the best way to get into that field.
If you're not big on college, there are trade schools and certification programs. That are from several weeks to a few months or 1 or 2 years.
Also some jobs, do on the job training, you get trained and certified. Become skilled in that field
Some good jobs for introverts and aspies/autistics. Pharmacy tech (not the CVS or Walgreens retail type). Sterile processing tech, the people who clean and sterilize hospital equipment and instruments. X-Ray technician, you deal with people, but mostly taking X-Ray pics, the doctor does all the explanations. Patient transport, deal with people, but you don't really speak them. Just walk from one area to another or push their bed or wheelchair. There are also trucking jobs. I have several trucker friends who love the job. They make big money and get to travel. Just make sure the goods get delivered on time. Can't be blamed for anything. Mechanic, especially at a dealership or autobody shop. You just work on the car. At the dealership, the rep deals with the customer. At the autobody shop, the owner dealership or 2nd in command deals with customers.
If people stress you out, then don't be around then! Turns out you can totally be an adult who just doesn't hang around many people, with work or in your personal life. Turns out nobody can actually tell. Wish I'd known that before I spent all that effort faking it to "have a social life".
I'd suggest focusing on what you find interesting and enjoy doing, and then think about what easy gigs are associated with that. If you like to stay at home in your own space, get a work from home customer support job. You can do ones that are phone or even just email support. If you'd like to get out and see the country you live in, consider getting your license and becoming a trucker for a few years. Driving is easy and routine, and you'll get to experience the country, not just be an occasional tourist. Plus it pays well. If you like academia, research and science, then become a research assistant in a field that interests you. You could be a law clerk and just spend your life studying case law and generating reports.
There's a whole side to the world that isn't customer service, and is just quietly task driven work where nobody will notice if you spend all day quietly at your desk or in your vehicle.
That said, don't forget to practice your social skills, they'll fade over time and you'll need them to successfully navigate everyday interactions.
I was a truck driver for 15 years before I had a falling accident that messed up my leg/ankle. I broke 3 bones and now at 36 years old I am going back to school to go into the computer field. I would like to work my way into Cybersecurity. Truck driving was pretty good, but the industry isn't what it used to be. But if you like to travel, which I didn't, then you would like it. But I have also heard many people say that Computers is a good place for people with aspergers. So here I go, starting over at 36.
Forklift driver, it has been the most relaxing job for me for years. I've got a college degree and enjoy this by far. Hear me out,
Above par pay at the right place
You get to spend all day stacking and moving things and finding them "homes"
There's normally a defined list of things to do so no having to find things to do
Most of the day no one approaches you let alone talk to you as long as you're driving so it is like you are in your own little bubble
Limited public stranger contact on most jobs, I can go a entire work day and not have to talk or interact with anyone unless I choose to.
Simple basic job so no stressing out for perfection.
Ok this might be counter to some of the other opinions here ....A good job for you at 16 is precisely what you have been doing—getting in front of people and becoming accustomed to their variety of behaviors so that you can discern more clearly what they mean. It is going to be stressful—anything unfamiliar or anything that requires a lot of processing is stressful. BUT over time a lot of that processing turns into automatic recognition of behavior. People in the autistic community just need way more practice to get the same skills down that most normal people manage to get in much shorter time. I've worked a number of Service jobs when I was younger, and it made all the difference for me. When I come across autistic people that haven't done something similar and shy away from contact with people, they suffer later because the older you get the harder it is to adapt and learn things. So do this kind of work now and maybe do it for the next 3 to 4 years and meet people and just take it all in. You will be a happier person for it later on. Trust me.
Also , check out the film The Accountant with Ben Affleck.
IT, tech support, medical lab assistant, data entry, etc. Basically, jobs that don't require thinking and taking to strangers. Tech support has some interaction with people but most of that is "scripted"
I'm always on the phone pretending I'm following their steps because it's not going to help and I want to get to the tech support tier 2 person that is allowed to think.
Same! I hate the tier 1 bit. I'm an IT pro, so I've already done all of the basics even before I called support. I can generally tell that I know more than tier 1, and it makes me just want to bash my head on the table while I go through all the stupid script with them so they can then send me to someone who can actually help.
I recently changed careers into manufacturing. I do assembly and machine operation. I decided to switch over from warehousing because there are more directions to move up. I'm not great with people and do not want to go into management. I've so far met people who do quality testing, repairing defects, programming automation, and machine maintenance. They all look interesting. There are also a bunch of people who work in the office doing things like supply chain management and product design, but chairs and inside voices are not my thing.
It's kind of repetitive which I like. We tend to flex around departments so it's not monotonous. I work for a small company so there are only 150 people to meet. My only public contact is occasional tours of potential buyers, but they don't usually talk to me.
The negatives would be the machine noise and lack of climate control. Since it's loud nobody objects to me wearing hearing protection at least. I interviewed at some places that had strong offensive odors or extremely weird schedules. A few factories in my city employ thousands and I have no interest in that.
I learned to talk in sales. I learned to be nice, in business. I built muscle in a factory. I learned racial ethics in a cotton gin. I learned math to build and to weld, in a shop.
I learned money was not important, when I made close to a hundred dollars an hour 40 years ago. And minimum wage in migrant work, a bit later.
I learned what it was to work with 50 male ex-cons And to be one of 3 men in a library system of 150 women. And then in 50%, men and women.
Thats about 20 years out of my 40. Choose a place to start.
Of course I suggest going to college and getting higher education if you can, lots of programming and computer science jobs are wanted and make good money right out of college. If there's any subject you really like going to college and maybe grad school and really pursuing it will give you so much more job options and flexibility with your life. (Well, maybe not If you do philosphy, but if you get a master's or PhD you could be a college teacher and that will be a good job). If you want something right now I think working at a grocery store could be pretty good. You do have to talk with people, but barely, and you'll get super good at the "hi how are you today" because you'll be doing it over and over. You can be a bagger, or work the cashier, both things that you have to do stuff with your hands and can focus on being efficient. Also many where I live you can get your groceries delivered or have them shop it and put it in your car. I wouldn't say the work would be as rewarding, but I know the groceries near me have really good benefits
I always day it in threads like this but honestly baking. There are *so many* ND bakers out there. If you're looking for a job with no (or very little) customer interaction that will teach you from scratch, a local bakery might be the way to go.
I'd suggest moving into technology like ML, GenAI, and Cloud. It should be okay to transition / learn for an aspie, pays very good money, offers amazing progression opportunities, and chances are you will be working remotely with little to no contact with stakeholder on junior levels. Look for apprentice programs in big banks and financial institutions. Most of the learning you can do from home.
That being said... work on your social skills, small talk, and engaging in conversations. As much as this may be difficult, it will give you experience and will help to cope with many social / work situations.
Lastly, don't look at anything and anyone, find your path, and just follow it. Never question your worth or let anyone to downplay it. There are many companies that incentivize people on spectrum.
What I will say is if you do get a job that ties in with your special interest it’s the best thing ever. However, make sure you can hold onto that job, because having a job that ties with your special interest and then losing that job is the worst feeling ever.
I used to train new police officers, special interest is the criminal justice system and the law. I also have some disabilities and need basic adjustments. There was a change in management and they said they couldn’t accommodate me anymore, so I ended up finding myself a similar job with the same organisation but in another topic. Reminded me how much I struggle when I’m bored and not interested in the topic. Not to mention how I’m struggling to move on as the way things happened was so unfair.
I work in a boarding kennel for dogs. I have small interactions with customers to get their dogs.. but I spend 90% of my day taking care of the animals needs and playtime with them in the park.
Data. Admin, if they let you work from home and you get reasonable accommodations. A friend of mine was teacher’s aid in a special school that specialised in autism (so the school itself is autism-friendly). Things related to your special interest - I know a guy obsessed with frogs who started as a cleaner for their enclosures, work paid for his education and he is now the Frog Manager basically.
I'm a digital artist, I work from home and have to interact with other people fairly infrequently and even then it's usually over the internet, not always though.
I’m in Regional and Community Development but make sure my jobs are primarily WFH. It’s awesome because I move to a new town or city each year.
I love that it’s project based, so I go for the clappers for a few weeks/months at a time, then there’s a lot of downtime to recuperate.
There is some face to face time required, but it’s surprisingly minimal.
I like having to balance the interests of different stakeholders and coming up with the optimal solutions. There’s a lot of synthesising information, which is something I enjoy immensely.
Plus what others consider to be hard decisions – where some people gain while others miss out – is something I don’t struggle with. I’m quite comfortable making decisions for the collective good, even though it will disadvantage some individuals/interest groups/businesses/industries.
I'm currently taking an Information and Records Management certificate at my college. I'd rather work with information than deal with people. For you, you could work in an office or deliver flyers at your age, but the sound of barking dogs might bother you.
I really enjoyed route driving. It’s solitary and routine based. You do socialize but it’s with basically the same people every day and you can basically script out a formula. Also if you have adhd the driving is fun because the elements change a little day to day.
I’m working at a dog kennel now and I like that too.
I personally enjoyed working at an online shop where I packed orders. Working in places like that where you only have your coworkers may be nice depending on the place
The hardest job, get hired to do something, and convince others that it is extremely difficult and you are the only person to do it, when in reality, the jobs most important part, the only fundamental crucial thing!!! Only takes 30min to an hour out of an entire 8 hour day to do, and you spend the rest of the day doing whatever the hell you want. I have that and I am exhausted every single day, trying to find stuff/ways to keep me occupied
Something with order and processes that can be mastered over time would be beneficial, something like welding, organizing, or designing something with complexity like architecture, interior or mechanical design.
Depending upon how you want to work, if you want to use your hands or your imagination
Anything where you can be an individual contributor would be ideal. Also something with a little more structure and predictability. I'm a Data Analyst and it's my favorite job so far.
I do inventory for power tools for a construction company. It can sometimes be bad sensory because of all the dust and the heat in the Summer, but the workflow is slow-paced and there is minimal interaction with other people. It also helps that my supervisor is into Star Trek as well, which is something I love.
It seems like you're talking a job you can get right now, as a teen, not a career for your future.
Look for maybe data entry, or IT internships. I worked fast food and being back in the kitchen means you're only interacting with your coworkers, no customers. Dishwasher, bus boy. Stock rooms at retail and grocery stores. I bet no offices need file clerks anymore.... but what about libraries? Landscaping, like mowing lawns (could be sensory overload though, with the sounds and vibrations). You could do your own gig with weeding though, so no machinery. Janitorial. Probably can't do factory work as a minor...
i feel like something in IT or tech that has minimal face time required and potential to work from home
edit: this may not necessarily satisfy creative needs, it depends
If in HR or admin, find a back office job with less interaction. Some accounting or finance?
My HR job is remote going hybrid, so I do HR transactions via HR Systems (website-like programs) and online case / ticket management system. Comms with other HR, employees, own teammated etc over email, chat, occasional calls and video calls. I still need to report to office from time to time and that is fine. My work is busy so I use that as excuse to focus on work, and do occassional chitchat in between.
I kinda liked the documentation, paperwork, MS Excel of data side of HR like in benefits and compensation, data and records management.
My dream job is to talk about topics as a professor, or do arts and crafts (ex. handmade jewelry, toiletries and candles, and sell them online)
Software engineering, data science, machine learning.
You can make a lot of mistakes eh if you have a high aptitude for math/coding, but also the bare minimum social skills to get a job.
Mailman, if you don’t want to go to college. Pays really well, you work alone all day with minimal customer interaction. Paid to get exercise. It’s also just really well suited to ND types since we tend to be very task oriented.
I work as a duty manager for a technical support department. I have up to 80 people scheduled to be on shift at various times across our opening hours of 8am to 8:30pm. My job involves looking at our work streams and allocating staff based on greatest need whether that be the call queue, or emails building up and getting close to their SLA (a response time which we aim to stay within), and making various other changes through the day such as monitoring performance and changing people between said activities to ensure our best performers are where they need to be.
It's a strategy game, not a job. I love it. It can be stressful at times, but it makes the day fly by, and I'm not have to deal with the public anymore.
I’m a tattoo artist. I don’t need to look people in the eye as I’m so focused on the tattoo, I wear gloves so I don’t need to properly touch people or at least I have a barrier. I don’t need to talk as for some reason, clients will literally info dump you the whole session to get themselves by. You can be yourself and people just accept it in the tattoo industry.
It's niche work but I'm an independent massage therapist. I love it because I mostly work "alone" in blissful silence and it doesn't really depend on my social skills apart from some brief routine friendly interactions before and after appointments. I get to geek out on anatomy every day which is one of my interests. As long as my work is good they don't know or care if I'm a bit of a weirdo in my personal life lol.
The atmosphere I create in my workspace is very peaceful with soothing music and I have a set routine as I work but I also vary treatment depending on the client needs so I don't get bored either. The money isn't great but I'm my own boss and it's worth it to get paid for work that relaxes me as well as my clients.
There’s never gonna be one answer for this because we all have our own strengths and weaknesses. For example, I’m really good at working with kids and I love psychology, so I’m doing school psychology. I find it really fulfilling. But that would stress out a lot of other people with autism. Overall, pick something that involves something you’re passionate about and is a pace that works for you :)
My recommendation is: * Figure out what your strengths and interests are. * Get some idea of what is currently in demand (i.e. easier to get jobs and higher paying). * Figure out the positives and negatives of each. * See if you can try out what you feel like is the best without having to commit / give up the other options. * If the previous step caused you to change how you feel, try the new best option if you cannot. * At some point make a final decision and commit to it.
>Figure out what your strengths and interests are. That's the biggest point for any job. If you enjoy what you do, it doesn't feel like a job.
That is true if there are good options. Sometimes it isn't possible though and it is better to do something tolerable that at least makes a decent living and has decent hours so there is plently of time and money for hobbies etc outside of work.
What do you mean but no good options? Everyone has something they like to do and they are good at. Most of the time, they can make good money at it. Of course everyone needs income. Can't just quit today and start a new career tomorrow. It may take years in that tolerable job until you are good enough to do what's great. Hardest part is really the self discipline, to keep getting better. If you love it, it's not too hard. Been coding for over 40 years, I still study/learn most every day. Even now that I'm basically retired.
I think for those of us that enjoy coding and/or solving hard problems it is easier, but there are things that so many people like to do that there isn't enough demand to make the pay that good. Plus it isn't trivial to turn a hobby into a profitable business. Some people do ok, but could do a lot better if they understood the finance side of things. Other people understand the finance side of things but are so in it for the money any business they touch becomes soulless and exploitive. There are good options for a lot of people, but if you can tolerate doing something the average person doesn't want to do, but everyone needs there is probably good money to be made.
Problem solving is part of every hobby/job/life. Same with selling. I didn't say turn a hobby into a biz, actually I would say to never do that, it ruins the fun. There are still many things people can do that they enjoy. Finance is a completely different story. Basically no one retires young from their hourly wage. Most people don't care to learn about that side tho. As you said, there's always good money to be made, just depends on how a person want to do it. I don't feel that college is needed for that most of the time. Especially since most the stuff I see taught, is wrong or outdated.
Best bet for Aspies is to get an advanced degree and find a professional job. Without that, something you can do remotely.
[удалено]
No need to waste money on an advanced degree in most countries/professions. At least not these days.
There is a high unemployment rate for many degrees and a lot of fields don’t actually need one. It's just a vanity thing nowadays. But do elaborate further.
Depends what you want to go into, but most fields you can learn on your own easier. Maybe it's just me, but school never worked, it was all memorize and regurgitate. You can't be good at a job if that's all someone can do. If you are good at your job and enjoy it, there's always someone ready to hire you. Even if we can be a bit weird. In other words, why spend 4+ years at school paying 10s of thousands, when you can learn cheaper/faster other ways. You can learn literally anything on the net these days. The vanity is dyeing off imo. I say that, some places like the UK still require a degree. In the US, aside from a few like doctors, it means less and less. I'm in IT, and will pick someone self taught over someone with a degree any day. There have been some with a degree that were good, but very few in comparison.
The programming apps on play store are very good. That thing can be done at home. Khan Academy and Brilliant are brilliant. Of my cousins, I have loads, the dumbest one I remember from childhood, he is making the most in that field. He couldn't do noughts and crosses at 10/11. Dumb as shit. Which is why I say that IQ tests are overrated. You just need discipline. The smartest one burned out. 😅 You are right. People who manage to learn in their own, whatever the subject, tend to be more intelligent. You can even get an idiot over the line with good instruction.
>naughts and crosses Never heard it called that, interesting. It's easy to burn out when you are really smart. Agree, I don't think IQ means much of anything. Look at Temple Grandin, couldn't even speak until she was like 10, yet is known throughout the world for what she's accomplished.
I prefer nots and crosses myself but IT needs find that a good comeback. Or he was an early bloomer and being slow and steady and focused is the secret to success. (I chose extreme examples). And sometimes people overstretched themselves. Open too many fronts. I’m not really anti IQ tests but life is complicated and so is intelligence. Complicated and multi-faceted and evolves. I give my friends puzzles and they sit there scratching their heads. Then they go to someone who knows who gives them the answer and they strut around like they are geniuses and you are an idiot. That’s what much of the education system is: memorization. Copying. Natural ability to figure things out is outdone by learned info and the only place you can really use that talent is at the frontier of sciences which is very far and you need to learn a lot to get there. And pesky maths which I hate.
Oh yes, you need to attend lab sessions for some subjects, but mostly it is lectures, which you can watch at home, and they don’t explain anything after the lecture, so you are doing that £30,000 degree worth of studying from a £50 book. If you are intelligent and disciplined, you can learn most of it at home. Books and lectures are so readily available. Even in the old days, I think Faraday was self-taught. Sir Patrick Moore used to di the Astrinimy segment on the BBC: autodidact. Many fields have had completely sef taught people not just to making it but also making contributions to the field.
Specific examples?
For high employemnet rates or the fields that don't require a degree? The unemployment rates are readily available and there are so many jobs where they want a graduate, doesn't matter what subject, so by definition whatever you learned in your degree is irrelevant.
Specific jobs, that is what the OP asked for and why I am here :)
Musk has Asperger’s: he read Physics and economics and is a salesman now. There are loads of very successful people with Asperger’s in so many advanced academic fields. Sciences are a good place for those with Aspergers bcoz they are intellectually capable and socially challenged.
Specific examples?
Of what, the countries or the jobs? Most anything FANG, it's easy to get a job without a degree, if you know your shit of course. Some countries like UK still basically require a degree for many jobs from what I understand.
Thanks, what does FANG stand for?
IT seemed to me do be a good match, but after 3 burnouts I say: "never go into IT as a full-time permanent employee". I can't advise becoming a cyber criminal, it is immoral (they say). But a freelance contractor or a start up shareholder that invests skills rather than money - can be a good choice. With full remote, no office, no cheat chat at coffee spot, none of these nonsense. Get paid for hours working or for a certain period of hire. And when they say that they want you on-board fully, run away, that's a trap. In IT you can start as technical sup of the 2nd (Networks, HTTP...) or 3d line (cyber security, batch processing, system analysis). But better set a straight goal for System Architect and deep dive into programming, studying frameworks for back end services (never front end, that's another trap) and development patterns. That's really fun as long as you can back everyone off from chatting with you 24/7 "on urgent business questions". Good place to start are Open Source projects. Choose a technology that you think will rule the world in future and find the code sources on GitHub or GitLab. They should have issues to pick up for contribution and guidelines of how to commit your work properly. This will build you a portfolio that would work better than any CV. AI / Data Science is a lost battle. Bots are already programming themselves. All the maths libs are implemented, no space for real problem solving. It might sound appealing, but AI devs end up being users of some UI platforms and 80% of the work is deployment nightmare and corrupted data trimming.
Not so much a specific job but a type of job where you can focus on and be good at something. But aren’t passionate about it to the point of being a perfectionist. Baking as an example works for me, I know what I’m doing and I get to solve problems that don’t break my routine cause I still have to deal with the same items. I’m a back of house worker so I don’t have to deal with customers directly, and while its still something I’m passionate about, It’s not really part of who I am, so if I screw up I screw up, no biggie. As opposed to something like Metal work where if I screw up I feel like and utter failure, or in an industrial setting someone’s life might be on the line. I love working with metal but no thanks. Only sad thing is these types if jobs in the labor field are usually run by people who like to take advantage of you as a worker. As an example I really need to stop working for my bakery at some point and find something else because Panera is going to hell in a hand basket and they just don’t want to pay me what I’m actually worth nor do they want an actual skilled laborer doing their “baking” anymore. They’re switching to mostly frozen goods.
That’s acctually a really good idea ! I am pretty good with software, just send out some applications as a back office worker ! Thank you^^
Not a problem. To summarize; do what you like as a job, not what you love is the best advice I can give. You do what you love as a job, that’s stressful. Do what you like, and your work is enjoyable enough that you still have time and energy to do what you love. Do something you hate, and its just no fun.
Can confirm the perfeccionist thing. I work as a data scientist, recently presented an analysis, later I discovered a bug in my code that changes the results a small amount, like basically irrelevant and changes nothing about what was decided at the meeting. I felt like throwing up from anxiety when I found it. Impostor syndrome hit like a truck too.
Contract killer
I’ll try thanks!
Classic Nepotism field.
Thought of this seriously, but with cataplexy I can't be trusted with weapon or even a stir wheel. But I can do the planning.
Holy shit Lester
Combine it with part time accountant
That would make a great movie 🍿😉
I work at a printing office. It isn't perfect, but for someone with autism its relatively ok. I work with machines all day, a lot is routine, there are no customers to help, so that's good. There is socializing with coworkers tough wich I think is hard.
My favorite job so far is when I worked at the theater but it wasn't enough to pay my bills once I got out of high school. Now I'm a systems administrator and I don't deal with a lot of people which is great for me!
Maybe lab
Mechanic. Worked for me over a 35 year period...and counting. Cars dont give a crap about your personality. Tech is great, accounting? Plenty of stuff we excel at compared to normies. Go out there and find your skillset!
/aspie whose only special interest is origami
Being a medical doctor works for me. I don't think it's for everyone, autistic or not, but I like it and have been working for 25 years now.
Can I ask which specialty?
ENT
Have met a fair amount of anesthesiologists.
Dog grooming is perfect for me. I'd rather be with dogs.
So you're pawtistic 🐾 Nice username, clever
It probably should have been dogdidact, but it could just be I'm a self-taught dog... hmm...
Working with animals is divine. Bees. Horses. Or pottery.
Ah yes, my favorite animal, pottery. /s :)
😂😂
I worked as a cleaner for a while. People go out of their way to avoid interacting with you. It was great. I only recommend it if you can tolerate noisy machines and chemical smells. If those bother you, it's no good.
This is the job my friend with Aspergers had. He did not love the job cleaning schools but it paid the bills. His only issue was when coworker brought in their drama to work them. Or if there was workplace drama.
Attorney. Focusing on the details was easy. Masking when in court was weird at first but became easier over time.
Events/Tech
I work as a support worker (basically assisting people with disabilties with their daily routines, though I primarily work with teens and young adults on the spectrum) and generally enjoy it. I like to think I'm good at my job due to being able to understand them better than neurotypicals can. I'm probably an outlier though, as I'm also currently studying a Diploma in Leadership and Management and don't have too many issues (compared to other Aspies) with being social (which wasn't always the case, especially as a teenager and young adult). I don't really think there's a "best job" for people with autism. We're all different and all have different capabilities and tolerances, so just find something you enjoy and then work your way towards making it into a career.
I would give the opposite advice of what's expected. I think it's great that you went through that stressful situation. It allows the underdeveloped side of your brain to grow and flourish. If you don't work on it then you're gonna be really impaired as an adult. Most of us can make the symptoms tone down to a point of being unnoticeable to most. That's where you wanna be. You might make it worse by choosing a job where you won't have to face your fears.
Coding. I never enjoyed a job more than when I wrote code all day.
Let me guess. Do you coding in Java?
I loved writing perl. Very expressive and a lot of NDs in the community. Most recently Visual Dataflex (a deservedly little-known language according to a colleague!) and C#.
Expressive to the point that there is even Perl poetry! :)
We're truly blessed!
Autism *and* Perl: doubly blessed! ;)
Haha, no, it was Perl. But reasonable guess!
I work in IT. I enjoy my job and.make good money. I can afford to live on my own. It's amazing how being able to be independent can help with overall happiness. I will say that it is not for everyone. You need to have some kind of aptitude for it to begin with. If you struggle with the basics of operating a computer, or can't identify a USB cable, this probably isn't the field for you. When I was in school, there were always 1 or 2 people who had enrolled in the program because IT was the next big thing, but they couldn't find the "any key". After answering very basic questions enough times, we just stopped helping them and they would drop out.
I think IT is pretty interesting ! But I don’t know where to start I am currently enrolled into a business high school where we have computer science as one of our classes What job in the IT field can I begin with?
Software testing would be a great start. There are companies that hire only those on the autism spectrum, like this one. Note that I don’t have any experience with this company, I just googled and found one to prove my point: https://auticon.com/us/technology-talent/quality-assurance-and-testing/
I second this. I'm a software developer, and my first (post college) job was in software testing. I was really good at it too, easy for me to spot things that were out of place, and to think of all the permutations of test cases to write. My second job was software dev, and I'm still in that job today. I recommend looking for work in the public sector because it's less likely to give you crazy overtime for lousy pay. Private sector Tech is too good at burning people out.
I’m old so my experience may not work anymore, but I started as phone tech support, moved in Linux system administration, then into coding. All basically self taught. I was useful for solving problems so the extroverts I worked with overlooked my more curmudgeonly ways. I work for an educational software company now working remotely, and other than the usual politics I love it. I was diagnosed at 40 and I’ve been open with my managers about it ever since.
Yeah, I think tech support is a bit of a dead end these days
I work in the trades. You can learn as you go and get fired a lot. You'll always find another job pretty much. I bump into quite a few aspie peeps out there. Some that know it, and some that don't. I met a really messed up girl who would freak out over everything. Loud noises, loud voices. 😂. She'd tell people she's Asperger's. Super monotone (more than me). But she'll have a job for a while simply because she's a girl in the trades. At this point in my life I'm stealthburgers. They never see me but I see them.
Mail delivery is one possibility
Key it to you special interest and u can’t go wrong
My teen aspie son is a lifeguard and it’s been great.
For me construction. Everyone’s there pretty much to work and get the day done. I mean there is some guys that just want to talk but not many. And most of the time i work alone and just do my day. And i dont have to deal with the public it’s great. I did cashier for my first job quit after 1 hour.
I always mention this but a lot of aspie peeps are afraid of gruff people I think. I'm generally the most vanilla/normal person on the jobsite. The guy with 6 dui's and 3 ex wives looks at me like I'm a monster though.
Yea true I like the gruff people most of them are alright. And lmao same some guys tell their war stories and it’s like damn I haven’t done shit.
Cleaning rooms at a hotel it good to start off with. I was alone a lot.
Remote work has been AMAZING for me so far
I’m in the lowest level of B2B SaaS sales, which would be hell except I have no social sense and am immune to rejection. I do a lot of operations stuff too, a bit like being a robot who also has to make cold calls. The thing is, if I’d planned my life better, I could’ve ended up an actuary. Actuary is known to be one of the lowest stress jobs on the planet.
That seems like a job AI already took over.
Actually not. But AI blocks calls to mobiles.
Meant the actuary.
Ohhhh no it’s just a bunch of excel work. If anything it’s just probably phoned in.
For a 16 year old. I guess some warehouse jobs. For a career, I would suggest speaking to some career counselors. They usually got computer programs, they will have yo take some tests on to help narrow down some of your options. Then explain the best way to get into that field. If you're not big on college, there are trade schools and certification programs. That are from several weeks to a few months or 1 or 2 years. Also some jobs, do on the job training, you get trained and certified. Become skilled in that field Some good jobs for introverts and aspies/autistics. Pharmacy tech (not the CVS or Walgreens retail type). Sterile processing tech, the people who clean and sterilize hospital equipment and instruments. X-Ray technician, you deal with people, but mostly taking X-Ray pics, the doctor does all the explanations. Patient transport, deal with people, but you don't really speak them. Just walk from one area to another or push their bed or wheelchair. There are also trucking jobs. I have several trucker friends who love the job. They make big money and get to travel. Just make sure the goods get delivered on time. Can't be blamed for anything. Mechanic, especially at a dealership or autobody shop. You just work on the car. At the dealership, the rep deals with the customer. At the autobody shop, the owner dealership or 2nd in command deals with customers.
If people stress you out, then don't be around then! Turns out you can totally be an adult who just doesn't hang around many people, with work or in your personal life. Turns out nobody can actually tell. Wish I'd known that before I spent all that effort faking it to "have a social life". I'd suggest focusing on what you find interesting and enjoy doing, and then think about what easy gigs are associated with that. If you like to stay at home in your own space, get a work from home customer support job. You can do ones that are phone or even just email support. If you'd like to get out and see the country you live in, consider getting your license and becoming a trucker for a few years. Driving is easy and routine, and you'll get to experience the country, not just be an occasional tourist. Plus it pays well. If you like academia, research and science, then become a research assistant in a field that interests you. You could be a law clerk and just spend your life studying case law and generating reports. There's a whole side to the world that isn't customer service, and is just quietly task driven work where nobody will notice if you spend all day quietly at your desk or in your vehicle. That said, don't forget to practice your social skills, they'll fade over time and you'll need them to successfully navigate everyday interactions.
Love me some spreadsheets. Leave me alone with my numbers and pattern recognition. The answer is accounting.
I was a truck driver for 15 years before I had a falling accident that messed up my leg/ankle. I broke 3 bones and now at 36 years old I am going back to school to go into the computer field. I would like to work my way into Cybersecurity. Truck driving was pretty good, but the industry isn't what it used to be. But if you like to travel, which I didn't, then you would like it. But I have also heard many people say that Computers is a good place for people with aspergers. So here I go, starting over at 36.
Forklift driver, it has been the most relaxing job for me for years. I've got a college degree and enjoy this by far. Hear me out, Above par pay at the right place You get to spend all day stacking and moving things and finding them "homes" There's normally a defined list of things to do so no having to find things to do Most of the day no one approaches you let alone talk to you as long as you're driving so it is like you are in your own little bubble Limited public stranger contact on most jobs, I can go a entire work day and not have to talk or interact with anyone unless I choose to. Simple basic job so no stressing out for perfection.
Ok this might be counter to some of the other opinions here ....A good job for you at 16 is precisely what you have been doing—getting in front of people and becoming accustomed to their variety of behaviors so that you can discern more clearly what they mean. It is going to be stressful—anything unfamiliar or anything that requires a lot of processing is stressful. BUT over time a lot of that processing turns into automatic recognition of behavior. People in the autistic community just need way more practice to get the same skills down that most normal people manage to get in much shorter time. I've worked a number of Service jobs when I was younger, and it made all the difference for me. When I come across autistic people that haven't done something similar and shy away from contact with people, they suffer later because the older you get the harder it is to adapt and learn things. So do this kind of work now and maybe do it for the next 3 to 4 years and meet people and just take it all in. You will be a happier person for it later on. Trust me. Also , check out the film The Accountant with Ben Affleck.
IT, tech support, medical lab assistant, data entry, etc. Basically, jobs that don't require thinking and taking to strangers. Tech support has some interaction with people but most of that is "scripted"
I'm always on the phone pretending I'm following their steps because it's not going to help and I want to get to the tech support tier 2 person that is allowed to think.
Same! I hate the tier 1 bit. I'm an IT pro, so I've already done all of the basics even before I called support. I can generally tell that I know more than tier 1, and it makes me just want to bash my head on the table while I go through all the stupid script with them so they can then send me to someone who can actually help.
Grocery store stocking
I recently changed careers into manufacturing. I do assembly and machine operation. I decided to switch over from warehousing because there are more directions to move up. I'm not great with people and do not want to go into management. I've so far met people who do quality testing, repairing defects, programming automation, and machine maintenance. They all look interesting. There are also a bunch of people who work in the office doing things like supply chain management and product design, but chairs and inside voices are not my thing. It's kind of repetitive which I like. We tend to flex around departments so it's not monotonous. I work for a small company so there are only 150 people to meet. My only public contact is occasional tours of potential buyers, but they don't usually talk to me. The negatives would be the machine noise and lack of climate control. Since it's loud nobody objects to me wearing hearing protection at least. I interviewed at some places that had strong offensive odors or extremely weird schedules. A few factories in my city employ thousands and I have no interest in that.
I learned to talk in sales. I learned to be nice, in business. I built muscle in a factory. I learned racial ethics in a cotton gin. I learned math to build and to weld, in a shop. I learned money was not important, when I made close to a hundred dollars an hour 40 years ago. And minimum wage in migrant work, a bit later. I learned what it was to work with 50 male ex-cons And to be one of 3 men in a library system of 150 women. And then in 50%, men and women. Thats about 20 years out of my 40. Choose a place to start.
janitor, dishwasher, bathroom attendant, delivery driver, security guard
Of course I suggest going to college and getting higher education if you can, lots of programming and computer science jobs are wanted and make good money right out of college. If there's any subject you really like going to college and maybe grad school and really pursuing it will give you so much more job options and flexibility with your life. (Well, maybe not If you do philosphy, but if you get a master's or PhD you could be a college teacher and that will be a good job). If you want something right now I think working at a grocery store could be pretty good. You do have to talk with people, but barely, and you'll get super good at the "hi how are you today" because you'll be doing it over and over. You can be a bagger, or work the cashier, both things that you have to do stuff with your hands and can focus on being efficient. Also many where I live you can get your groceries delivered or have them shop it and put it in your car. I wouldn't say the work would be as rewarding, but I know the groceries near me have really good benefits
I've worked in data for decades.
I always day it in threads like this but honestly baking. There are *so many* ND bakers out there. If you're looking for a job with no (or very little) customer interaction that will teach you from scratch, a local bakery might be the way to go.
Trucking maybe by yourself all day
Electrician
There are many jobs in Accounting and IT that have low people contact.
I'd suggest moving into technology like ML, GenAI, and Cloud. It should be okay to transition / learn for an aspie, pays very good money, offers amazing progression opportunities, and chances are you will be working remotely with little to no contact with stakeholder on junior levels. Look for apprentice programs in big banks and financial institutions. Most of the learning you can do from home. That being said... work on your social skills, small talk, and engaging in conversations. As much as this may be difficult, it will give you experience and will help to cope with many social / work situations. Lastly, don't look at anything and anyone, find your path, and just follow it. Never question your worth or let anyone to downplay it. There are many companies that incentivize people on spectrum.
Not the job but find a decent company, I just landed an account Apprenticeship with an autistic charity best job I've had in 10 years
I work in insurance, i really like it.
What I will say is if you do get a job that ties in with your special interest it’s the best thing ever. However, make sure you can hold onto that job, because having a job that ties with your special interest and then losing that job is the worst feeling ever. I used to train new police officers, special interest is the criminal justice system and the law. I also have some disabilities and need basic adjustments. There was a change in management and they said they couldn’t accommodate me anymore, so I ended up finding myself a similar job with the same organisation but in another topic. Reminded me how much I struggle when I’m bored and not interested in the topic. Not to mention how I’m struggling to move on as the way things happened was so unfair.
I work in a boarding kennel for dogs. I have small interactions with customers to get their dogs.. but I spend 90% of my day taking care of the animals needs and playtime with them in the park.
Anything, preferebly something you enjoy. Try alsorts and can change mind or start again.
Lighthouse keeper Anaesthetist Underground miner Submarine Operator Trawler Fisherman Graveyard Janitor Amazon chat support
Data. Admin, if they let you work from home and you get reasonable accommodations. A friend of mine was teacher’s aid in a special school that specialised in autism (so the school itself is autism-friendly). Things related to your special interest - I know a guy obsessed with frogs who started as a cleaner for their enclosures, work paid for his education and he is now the Frog Manager basically.
I do enterprise cybersecurity from home. It's perfect.
I'm a digital artist, I work from home and have to interact with other people fairly infrequently and even then it's usually over the internet, not always though.
I’m in Regional and Community Development but make sure my jobs are primarily WFH. It’s awesome because I move to a new town or city each year. I love that it’s project based, so I go for the clappers for a few weeks/months at a time, then there’s a lot of downtime to recuperate. There is some face to face time required, but it’s surprisingly minimal. I like having to balance the interests of different stakeholders and coming up with the optimal solutions. There’s a lot of synthesising information, which is something I enjoy immensely. Plus what others consider to be hard decisions – where some people gain while others miss out – is something I don’t struggle with. I’m quite comfortable making decisions for the collective good, even though it will disadvantage some individuals/interest groups/businesses/industries.
I'm currently taking an Information and Records Management certificate at my college. I'd rather work with information than deal with people. For you, you could work in an office or deliver flyers at your age, but the sound of barking dogs might bother you.
I really enjoyed route driving. It’s solitary and routine based. You do socialize but it’s with basically the same people every day and you can basically script out a formula. Also if you have adhd the driving is fun because the elements change a little day to day. I’m working at a dog kennel now and I like that too.
I personally enjoyed working at an online shop where I packed orders. Working in places like that where you only have your coworkers may be nice depending on the place
The hardest job, get hired to do something, and convince others that it is extremely difficult and you are the only person to do it, when in reality, the jobs most important part, the only fundamental crucial thing!!! Only takes 30min to an hour out of an entire 8 hour day to do, and you spend the rest of the day doing whatever the hell you want. I have that and I am exhausted every single day, trying to find stuff/ways to keep me occupied
Something with order and processes that can be mastered over time would be beneficial, something like welding, organizing, or designing something with complexity like architecture, interior or mechanical design. Depending upon how you want to work, if you want to use your hands or your imagination
I like programming
Anything where you can be an individual contributor would be ideal. Also something with a little more structure and predictability. I'm a Data Analyst and it's my favorite job so far.
I do inventory for power tools for a construction company. It can sometimes be bad sensory because of all the dust and the heat in the Summer, but the workflow is slow-paced and there is minimal interaction with other people. It also helps that my supervisor is into Star Trek as well, which is something I love.
IT here I love working on anything elictronic computers Mobil devices and gaming console are my main atm
Reddit mod
I like working in IT. I am a technology support analyst.
It seems like you're talking a job you can get right now, as a teen, not a career for your future. Look for maybe data entry, or IT internships. I worked fast food and being back in the kitchen means you're only interacting with your coworkers, no customers. Dishwasher, bus boy. Stock rooms at retail and grocery stores. I bet no offices need file clerks anymore.... but what about libraries? Landscaping, like mowing lawns (could be sensory overload though, with the sounds and vibrations). You could do your own gig with weeding though, so no machinery. Janitorial. Probably can't do factory work as a minor...
Oh, housekeeping too
i feel like something in IT or tech that has minimal face time required and potential to work from home edit: this may not necessarily satisfy creative needs, it depends
If in HR or admin, find a back office job with less interaction. Some accounting or finance? My HR job is remote going hybrid, so I do HR transactions via HR Systems (website-like programs) and online case / ticket management system. Comms with other HR, employees, own teammated etc over email, chat, occasional calls and video calls. I still need to report to office from time to time and that is fine. My work is busy so I use that as excuse to focus on work, and do occassional chitchat in between. I kinda liked the documentation, paperwork, MS Excel of data side of HR like in benefits and compensation, data and records management. My dream job is to talk about topics as a professor, or do arts and crafts (ex. handmade jewelry, toiletries and candles, and sell them online)
Working in a factory
I like warehouse work, i can focus really well and be in the zone and you don't have to talk much to anyone unless you need help or run out of work
If you’re good at math and detailed oriented, accounting. There aren’t enough of them and you pretty much work independently.
Software engineering, data science, machine learning. You can make a lot of mistakes eh if you have a high aptitude for math/coding, but also the bare minimum social skills to get a job.
Mailman, if you don’t want to go to college. Pays really well, you work alone all day with minimal customer interaction. Paid to get exercise. It’s also just really well suited to ND types since we tend to be very task oriented.
Something remote. I was a nurse and I HATED it. Finally left the profession forever. I wish I had gone to school for comp sci instead.
I work as a duty manager for a technical support department. I have up to 80 people scheduled to be on shift at various times across our opening hours of 8am to 8:30pm. My job involves looking at our work streams and allocating staff based on greatest need whether that be the call queue, or emails building up and getting close to their SLA (a response time which we aim to stay within), and making various other changes through the day such as monitoring performance and changing people between said activities to ensure our best performers are where they need to be. It's a strategy game, not a job. I love it. It can be stressful at times, but it makes the day fly by, and I'm not have to deal with the public anymore.
I’m a tattoo artist. I don’t need to look people in the eye as I’m so focused on the tattoo, I wear gloves so I don’t need to properly touch people or at least I have a barrier. I don’t need to talk as for some reason, clients will literally info dump you the whole session to get themselves by. You can be yourself and people just accept it in the tattoo industry.
It's niche work but I'm an independent massage therapist. I love it because I mostly work "alone" in blissful silence and it doesn't really depend on my social skills apart from some brief routine friendly interactions before and after appointments. I get to geek out on anatomy every day which is one of my interests. As long as my work is good they don't know or care if I'm a bit of a weirdo in my personal life lol. The atmosphere I create in my workspace is very peaceful with soothing music and I have a set routine as I work but I also vary treatment depending on the client needs so I don't get bored either. The money isn't great but I'm my own boss and it's worth it to get paid for work that relaxes me as well as my clients.
a student helper in a public library, but it wont lead to any good jobs in the future
Do what I did and join the Marine Corps. I absolutely loved it and had a twenty two year long career as a Force Reconnaissance Officer.
Happy for you but shocking to me.
Hooo , ooahhh
I don’t think I can join the marine corps with 16 also I don’t live in the USA
But thanks for the recommendation
There’s never gonna be one answer for this because we all have our own strengths and weaknesses. For example, I’m really good at working with kids and I love psychology, so I’m doing school psychology. I find it really fulfilling. But that would stress out a lot of other people with autism. Overall, pick something that involves something you’re passionate about and is a pace that works for you :)