Board index › Coping in life › The Haven

What type of jobs are there if you have little skills?

Page 1 of 1 [ 7 posts ] 

Previous topic | Next topic

Sarahsmith
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 14 Feb 2017
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,926
Location: Canada

16 Jan 2021, 7:32 pm

My psychiatrist thinks my autism affects me more socially than intellectually. I don't agree with that, just haven't had time to talk to him about it since we were talking about so many other things last appointment. Anyway I have poor short term memory, poor common sense and problem solving skills and I have a hard time concentrating. I'm glad they put me on disability because I'm not much good at working to support myself. Most of the jobs I've had were cashier jobs, mostly at fast food restaurants. I wasn't very good at them. I also found them too stressful. The other jobs were hotel jobs. I found them too physically demanding. I was too slow. I ended up getting so stressed out by these jobs that I got sick with colds all the time. I also didn't know I had autism and just didn't have a good work experience.

I'm not really good at anything. I think I have mild cognitive problems. I like creative writing and drawing. But I'm not very good at those things. Just average, I'd say. And very amateur. I love music and listen to all kinds of different genres every day. Since I have so much clothes I'm always sorting through my clothes and accessories and organizing my room differently so it looks nice and organized. I'm terrible at math, especially when standing in front of customers because I feel on the spot. I need to use a damn calculator all the time. Okay so those are my skills and things I'm not good at. So, like....what the hell am I good for job wise?



Redd_Kross
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 5 Jun 2020
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,450
Location: Derby, UK

16 Jan 2021, 7:41 pm

Sarahsmith wrote:
My psychiatrist thinks my autism affects me more socially than intellectually. I don't agree with that, just haven't had time to talk to him about it since we were talking about so many other things last appointment. Anyway I have poor short term memory, poor common sense and problem solving skills and I have a hard time concentrating. I'm glad they put me on disability because I'm not much good at working to support myself. Most of the jobs I've had were cashier jobs, mostly at fast food restaurants. I wasn't very good at them. I also found them too stressful. The other jobs were hotel jobs. I found them too physically demanding. I was too slow. I ended up getting so stressed out by these jobs that I got sick with colds all the time. I also didn't know I had autism and just didn't have a good work experience.

I'm not really good at anything. I think I have mild cognitive problems. I like creative writing and drawing. But I'm not very good at those things. Just average, I'd say. And very amateur. I love music and listen to all kinds of different genres every day. Since I have so much clothes I'm always sorting through my clothes and accessories and organizing my room differently so it looks nice and organized. I'm terrible at math, especially when standing in front of customers because I feel on the spot. I need to use a damn calculator all the time. Okay so those are my skills and things I'm not good at. So, like....what the hell am I good for job wise?


I'd suggest doing something creative that also offers a lot of variety. For example making things like greetings cards, or decorated picture frames, or bath bombs. Etsy kinda stuff that you can sell from home without too much interaction, and have fun with the 'hands on' side of it. And where you can always stop advertising for a while if you're feeling overloaded. "Craft" items don't necessarily require huge technical ability, it's more about imagination and flair. Set up costs are pretty low, too. A short attention span can actually be a benefit, as it will encourage you to experiment with new ideas.

Maybe make things with a local twist? Or draw up designs that are more personal to you, and then see who likes them?



Sarahsmith
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 14 Feb 2017
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,926
Location: Canada

16 Jan 2021, 8:04 pm

That's actually a pretty good idea. Not sure how good at it I'd be, but I could try for a while. It may take a while for me to find my niche.

I was thinking more of a type of work that would give me enough money to live somewhere better though. But making some extra spending money is all I've ever seemed to be able to accomplish, so the crafting idea is not a bad idea.



Last edited by Sarahsmith on 16 Jan 2021, 8:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Redd_Kross
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 5 Jun 2020
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,450
Location: Derby, UK

16 Jan 2021, 8:13 pm

Sarahsmith wrote:
That's actually a pretty good idea. Not sure how good at it I'd be, but I could try for a while. It may take a while for me to find my niche.

Yeah, but that's cool, experimenting is part of it.

The only real limitations are the physical properties of the materials. If you stick something together, you need to know it'll stay stuck.

If you don't like the idea of churning the same items out again and again, once you've decided something is cool, make that a selling point. "Exclusive", "Unique, one-off items", "Limited run of 10 pieces"....



Sarahsmith
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 14 Feb 2017
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,926
Location: Canada

16 Jan 2021, 8:14 pm

I am writing this down. :D



Fireblossom
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Jan 2017
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,585

17 Jan 2021, 4:01 am

Redd_Kross wrote:
Sarahsmith wrote:
My psychiatrist thinks my autism affects me more socially than intellectually. I don't agree with that, just haven't had time to talk to him about it since we were talking about so many other things last appointment. Anyway I have poor short term memory, poor common sense and problem solving skills and I have a hard time concentrating. I'm glad they put me on disability because I'm not much good at working to support myself. Most of the jobs I've had were cashier jobs, mostly at fast food restaurants. I wasn't very good at them. I also found them too stressful. The other jobs were hotel jobs. I found them too physically demanding. I was too slow. I ended up getting so stressed out by these jobs that I got sick with colds all the time. I also didn't know I had autism and just didn't have a good work experience.

I'm not really good at anything. I think I have mild cognitive problems. I like creative writing and drawing. But I'm not very good at those things. Just average, I'd say. And very amateur. I love music and listen to all kinds of different genres every day. Since I have so much clothes I'm always sorting through my clothes and accessories and organizing my room differently so it looks nice and organized. I'm terrible at math, especially when standing in front of customers because I feel on the spot. I need to use a damn calculator all the time. Okay so those are my skills and things I'm not good at. So, like....what the hell am I good for job wise?


I'd suggest doing something creative that also offers a lot of variety. For example making things like greetings cards, or decorated picture frames, or bath bombs. Etsy kinda stuff that you can sell from home without too much interaction, and have fun with the 'hands on' side of it. And where you can always stop advertising for a while if you're feeling overloaded. "Craft" items don't necessarily require huge technical ability, it's more about imagination and flair. Set up costs are pretty low, too. A short attention span can actually be a benefit, as it will encourage you to experiment with new ideas.

Maybe make things with a local twist? Or draw up designs that are more personal to you, and then see who likes them?


Hmm but what does the local law say about this kind of extra earnings when on disability? Is there a risk of losing the benefits if you make too much? Also, would you be able to handle all the official stuff like taxes if you did have a small business? I don't know how strict the laws regarding these things are where you're from, but I recommend looking in to it before starting anything.



auntblabby
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 114,795
Location: the island of defective toy santas

17 Jan 2021, 4:07 am

Generally, SSDI recipients can't start doing what's considered "substantial gainful activity" (SGA) and continue to receive disability benefits. The Social Security Administration defines "substantial" as earning more than a certain amount each month. In a nutshell, doing SGA means you are working and making more than $1,260 per month in 2020 (or $2,110 if you're blind). There are exceptions to this rule, however.