Lost yet another job...

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This is the second one in the past few months. I'm more upset about this one than the last one since I actually thought I was doing a good job. I feel really useless, since I want to be productive and make something of myself, but it seems like I'm never the right person for the job...

My first job was at Target in the clothing section. I really disliked the job since I don't particularly care for sorting clothing, and hanging things up was hard on my motor skills. But I tried hard and I know I did better than some of my coworkers, yet whenever something went wrong, I was usually the one blamed for it, even if it I wasn't assigned the specific job at the time. Eventually my manager called me in and listed every thing she thought I was doing wrong, even making up a few things, then fired me. I don't know what I did to cause her to dislike me and single me out, but considering I didn't like the job anyway, I was okay with being fired.

After that, I got a job at a restaurant that just opened, a burrito joint, preparing the food. I was really enjoying working there. Once I learned how to make each dish, I was able to do so easily when asked, and the routine was pretty even since the place rarely got really busy. I was getting along with everyone, or so I thought. The only problem that was ever brought up to me was that when I was curious about why I had to do something, I asked in a way that came across as angry to them, even though I wasn't. I never told my boss about my Asperger's because I didn't want it to seem like an excuse, and I was trying really hard to not let it affect me.

Today my boss called me over at the end of my shift and told me he was firing me because I wasn't social enough, and my demeanor was depressing and he didn't want to work around me. He said it had nothing to do with how well I did the job, because I did the job very well.
I worked in the back of the restaurant, so I was hoping the social aspect wouldn't be as hindering in this job, but I guess I was wrong. I don't want to come off as a depressing person. I know I'm quiet and it's hard for me to communicate well verbally, but it makes me pretty upset to know others see that as a really debilitating character flaw, enough to disregard how well I do at a job and fire me anyway...

I don't know what to do now. I'm 19, with only a high-school education, so job prospects are slim, and every job I can find is in the same fields as the ones I've already proven not to be good at...
I know I have things I'm good at, and I try really hard to compensate for the aspects I lack in. It just feels like people always get the wrong idea of how I am, even if I go out of my way to act accordingly. I had been trying to act more positive and outgoing, but it just seems pointless now...
Guess I just needed to rant about it a bit. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for reading this all if you did.

At least you were able find a job or have some work experience. I have been looking for a job for over a year as well as my brother and we've only had a few interviews, even have been hired.

It took me over a year as well until I got my first job. Oddly enough, I found I'm not that bad at interviewing. I can act pretty well in a one-on-one conversation, but not so much around more people. If you keep being persistent in applying for jobs you'll get one eventually.

It's a numbers game. Just keep applying for jobs and learn from your past mistakes. Realize that it's hit or miss when it comes with dealing with the personalities of the different people there. Work on your social skills by educating yourself and practice.

They fired you because you have autism.

I guess it would be easier if you tell them from the beginning about Asperger's for a very simple reason. If they don't know about, they'll always compare you with NT's though you can't keep up with their standards as far as the social stuff goes.

You could try to emphasize your strengths in an interview or application to clarify that each "lack" is outweighed by a gain. For instance lack in verbal communication -- outstanding ability to focus on a task.

Your boss has fired you because you weren't social enough and due to what he perceived as depressing demeanor. Both is not your fault, but caused by your Asperger's. Therefore, it's not as though you would take it as an excuse. Your boss said you did your job very well and in a way that's what counts. However, you will always come across as strange and awkward if you don't let them know about the reasons.

I've been fired because not socializing with coworkers caused them to complain about what they took for arrogance. Communicating the topic from the very beginning has made things much easier for me.

You are young, and have lots of time to learn what works for you. The work environment is as important as the job skills. You might be successful doing the same thing somewhere else. Did you ever see the soup nazi sienfeld episode? The guy was a jerk, but people would line up every day because his soup was so good.

Hang in there, brother! Things will turn around in your favour.
I admire your tenacity. Don't give up, you can make a difference.
Even Dr. Phil admitted on national TV that he sucked at being a waiter and got fired the first week.

I suggest though that you scout around in your local asperger/autism chapter (if your region has one) and see if you can network with the parents as to whether they are in a prominent position in a company, small or large, and would be willing to take you on. I guarantee you that once somebody has someone in their immediate family with ASD, it is very unlikely they will judge harshly and will tend to see more of your strengths. And with the rapid increase in ASD population, this is a viable prospect.

The way your boss fired you is illegal. Regardless as to whether your employee is "NT" or otherwise, one can't fire someone just coz they annoy one or one doesn't like working with them (Otherwise I would have fired about a million people when I worked as a manager! LOL). If you had worked out your trial period he is legally obliged to give you advance notice of your dismissal. Also when firing an employee, unless you catch them thieving from you or something else really severe, you are supposed to give at least one informal warning and one written warning.
You said the guy even said in as many words that you did the job well and it was just coz of personality clash he fired you. THIS IS WRONG!! !
This is a clear cut case for an unfair dismissal tribunal.
If were you I would go to the Citizens Advice Buereau or whatever they have wherever you are.

P.S. Your ex-boss is clearly an a***hole, not the kind of person I personally would want to work around (he sounds like his "demeanour" could do with a little work!) so maybe it's not so bad after all?
Have you thought about volunteering to try and get some different experience so you can branch out into different things?

The problem is that even if it is a personality conflict the Boss can find another reason to fire the autistic worker.

Yes...another "reason"...usually it's concocted. That, or they engage in constructive dismissal tactics like reducing workload, keeping them out of the loop, or ignoring their emails, etc.

Usually a Boss does not have to look very far if he wants to get rid of someone. All it takes is being late one time or some trivial act of insubordination or a mistake. A Boss can call a worker incompetent by merely raising the bar of his expectations.

Well that depends on how many people are reporting to him/her. If it's only 2-3 people, it's harder to call them on some double-standard, i.e. your two co-workers come in late several times and nothing happens, you come in late once and it the sh*t hits the fan. If it's something like 5-10 people reporting to him/her, you can notice double standards more easily. One of your colleagues does far worse things and doesn't get reprimanded, for example.

But I will say...it is unfortunate that one's paranoia level tends to escalate after disclosure.

Since I am autistic I get punished if my neurotypical coworker comes to work late.

How does that work?

The person that comes late gets sent home for the day and on that day I get my hours cut from 6 hours pay to 4 hours pay.