The Secret to initial success at a grocery store?
Ok heres what I THINK that an individual with AS has to do when on the job. I've noticed within myself as well as the Old Oasis forum as well as others that speed is a problem. I think I have the solution to that.
No matter what job you do you have to be able to go up to the manager or department head and tell them this: "I have this disorder called Asperger Syndrome and in order to be successful in helping to ensure this store meets its goals, I will need you to tell me for each task.
1.) What exactly you want me to do
2.) How you want me to do it.
3.) I will also need a time frame for each task.
4.) Key Concepts that make up the job.
This formula works in any dry grocery section of a Kroger on 2'nd shift, I KNOW this to be true. I worked for a year at this job with this going on. I'm currently in the produce section of a grocery store and I have implemented 2 out of 4 of these key concepts and I left them a note explaining that I needed them to verbalize the other two in the future if I have any problems.
I know I have posted something like this before but if I did not think that this was important I would not have posted it again.
Anybody can feel free to comment.
Speed comes with understanding your job to the point that you don't need everything listed for you. Even people with the best of intentions may not be able to think of everything we need. However, it is a good stepping stone, but just don't focus on always relying on others to this extreme. Aim for growth on being able to do things more on your own and be more prepared for the unexpected if you can.
I have said this before and will say it again: telling your employer you have a disability is not a good way to start off or be successful.
If anything your employer will treat you as a mental deficient and see you as a pity case rather than a capable, functioning human being.
Let's put it this way: do you want to be seen as a fit, fast, healthy hunting dog or the dog with a broken leg? The second always gets put to sleep.
tomboy4good
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Joined: 14 Apr 2008
Age: 64
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,379
Location: Irritating people everywhere
My adopted dad was deli manager at a grocery store. He put in over 25 years. Amazing, considering the fact that he wasn't what I'd call at all normal as far as his personality. He would never give eye contact to anyone...not family nor friends, no one! He had his own special interests which were not about working in a grocery store. However, I think he kind of made it a point of pride to do the best job he could. The deli section always looked great when he was finished for the day. No one back then knew about Aspergers, & I doubt anyone really cared. All they wanted was someone who could do the job well, & quickly. He hated being called away from stocking his dept to run a check stand, but he grudgingly did it. I often visited him during his work days in summer, & could hear him muttering under his breath! Probably a good thing he worked alone! He was always the express checker. Maybe not giving eye contact to the customers was a good thing! LOL He got the customers out of the store as fast as he could.
I doubt by telling them you have AS would be helpful to you. As a matter of fact, if you did, you might as well shoot yourself in the foot while you're at it.
_________________
If I do something right, no one remembers. If I do something
wrong, no one forgets.
Aspie Score: 173/200, NT score 31/200: very likely an Aspie
5/18/11: New Aspie test: 72/72
DX: Anxiety plus ADHD/Aspergers: inconclusive
