Job Requirement: Don't be Autistic!

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It's amazing how many job postings I see for jobs that interest me and fit my skill set which include statements that can be neatly summarized as: "Just don't be Autistic."

Like: "Must communicate effectively, both orally and in writing."
Or: "Must be able to work closely with others, in a fast-paced environment."
Or: "Will be expected to develop close relationships with clients."
Or: "Must respond well to change."

I just want money so I can stay living on my own and not be forced choose between moving back in with family members who don't like me (and will go "I told you so!" then proceed with insults) or being homeless.

Honest. I CAN be a good worker. I even WANT to be.

Am I expected to just lie about these things? But then what if I need accommodations (like being allowed to wear earplugs, or having a cubicle of my own instead of being in a bullpen with the team) which are "unsocial," and go against "being part of a team"? How could I even ASK for accommodations, in that environment?

I mean, of course teamwork is required; a company IS A TEAM. That's just what a company IS. But I think people don't realize how much of "group work" is actually independent work done as part of a larger project that other people are also working on, with some meetings here and there to keep everyone going in the right direction.

EDIT: I kind of went off on a rant about team work, but those other requirements bother me just as much. I don't think they have anything to do with what is actually REQUIRED to do the job that needs to be done. I think these requirements are bias.

I personally can't get jobs either. I had one via a family member but it didn't work out. It might not be you. There aren't really any jobs right now.

Thank you.

I'm just really glad that I lost my last job in a way that lets me get unemployment now. I MIGHT be able to keep my apartment on unemployment wages alone, but it's just too soon to know (because I started with a modest savings and I'm working hard to shrink my budget now). I need to find a new job soon enough to keep me independent, but I don't know how much time that actually allows me so I'm kind of freaking out.

Where do you live? Maybe there are organizations in your area that can help you, at least as far as a place to live if you lose your apartment.

I'm in the USA, on the West Coast (She answered, vaguely).

I've looked some online, and there doesn't seem to be anything... and I don't have any paperwork proving anything (I need an adult evaluation, because all I have from childhood is stories), so this is limiting...

Not sure where to look other than by searching online... I'm kind of seriously linked-up to the network and can't do much outside my house without my smart phone lol so maybe I need to look in some kind of paper publication?

How find if not online???? O.O

. . .

Oh gawdz I wish that wasn't a supertruth joke. O.o Really.... if I can't have found out about something by searching for related things online (or I guess going through the junk in my IRL mailbox, idk), and it wasn't taught about in school or shown on TV (back when I used to watch TV; I don't anymore), then there is a very good chance I don't know it exists.

I know about phonebooks, but I hate them because of the smell and they turn my fingers black; do physical phonebooks have stuff that I can't find online? O.o

The working world is tailored for NTs, what can I say? Jobs that many aspies would be good at are becoming obsolete due to things like automation and mass-production. We're slow and methodical, and the rest of the world is blindingly fast-paced.

It's true! They don't value what I have to offer at all!

Imagine being PAID TO STIM all day, at a spinning wheel, or in front of a loom, or engaging in any other artisan craft. Just IMAGINE. wow

I have mixed feelings.

Been there, done that, but I can't blame an employer that NEEDS someone to be good with people.

I get upset that they don't think to compartmentalize jobs so that someone who is not a "people person" (autistic or not) can't find a meaningful place in the workforce.

This was my biggest problem at my last job. There were clearly compartmentalizeable tasks and there were employees who were clearly very good at what I was struggling with and didn't mind those assignments, AND I was very good at tasks those people struggled with, AND there was enough of each kind of work to spread it out that way, BUT my middleaged, micromanaging supervisor maintained that it "wasn't fair" to divide the work up by task the way I really needed.

I don't understand at all what she meant by "fair." To me, it meant "I don't know what I'm talking about, now do what I say."

Duplicate post

Last edited by AmethystRose on 24 Aug 2014, 6:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I recently seen a job offer at second-hand clothes shop:
"I will hire a woman to wash and iron clothes. Requirements: be friendly and do great in team."

Not like I was interested in the offer anyway since I seriously hate the shop. It is autistic unfriendly, too many sounds, too many colors and no order at all, all clothes are seriously messed up (green blouse next to pink and a blue one next to them and then a black skirt and yellow pants and a white sweater and so on, and then another green blouse and black pants next to them) - I always get sensory overload there.

But I can't really understand what being good with social skills got to do with washing and ironing clothes...

The worst thing is that my mom tried to force me to work there because "I could do it". She explained to me that the "being friendly and doing great in team" means there is no requirements and they hire anyone. Yeah, right. They want someone good with social skills because the shop is totally messed up and the only thing they do properly is chit-chat. I can't chit-chat and I would go crazy with all the loud music. The shop sounds like a disco.

Last edited by Kiriae on 24 Aug 2014, 4:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.

I think some people want to use their workplace as a friend-building zone. Being friendly and good at teamwork aren't necessarily part of the job duties, but some people make such a big deal out of socializing at work that those things are considered "necessary." They just can't do their jobs and leave one another alone.

This makes sense as a reason those requirements show up so much; I think it's usually someone who will have to see the new employee every day who decides what's required.

It's a shame, but as they say "majority rules".
I recommend looking for jobs that don't require this. e.g. a nightshift somewhere.

This was bugging me too and being an Aspie I was taking it literally and not applying for jobs that specified this criteria. I was actually advised by another Aspie to ignore this nonsense and apply anyway. These are generic job specifications and probably not needed when you actually get in the job. If the job sounds like something you could do aside from these statements I'd advise to proceed with it. You can usually get a good idea from the interview if you'll be able to do the job or not. Good luck!

"Must communicate effectively, both orally and in writing." I can see Aspies thrive with this one. From my experience, aspies formulate less ambiguously and say what they mean in a clearer way than many NTs. Of course, this is not true for everyone, but some aspies are quite eloquent, albeit occasionaly with monotonous intonation.