I’m crying right now because I thought i was the only one who couldn’t handle a real job. I spent my life raising kids instead because I couldn’t get or hold down jobs. I am 49 and just figured out recently I’m autistic, up until now I was sure there was something fundamentally wrong with me. Thank you for making this video, I can finally stop beating myself up for being a failure!
Just raising kids is harder than a real job, but no one can fire you, so i kind of get what you're saying. (I mean, I guess you can lose custody but usually that's REALLY extreme. You have to be either really incompetent or really unlucky as a mom to lose custody of your own kids. )
I feel this on such a deep level. I honestly don't even think I'm that amazing of a mom but for some reason that's felt like the only real thing I could do my whole life. Even things that I love and are my passions when it comes to making it into an actual job there's so many tiny details that steer me away from wanting to do it or even being able to do it. So I've always just felt like my only purpose would be to be a mom
I am 36 and can't handle a normal job (because if I get a part-time job and do it well, managers will start giving me full-time hours, and then I crash and burn).
I found out I’m autistic at 19. I had already worked fast food and retail, and the thought of college petrified me. And when I did go to college, I couldn’t do it. I had to drop out. So I became a jeweler. And there’s nothing else I could ever imagine myself doing. This is the job for me. I get to play with fire, hazardous chemicals, and I get to look at pretty rocks. Perfect job. 12/10
I self-diagnosed at 38. I’ve worked full-time as a data entry clerk for the past 13 years at a law firm. I sit in a tiny office by myself scanning documents and saving them into the system, I love it. I very rarely have to interact with people and my job is the same from day to day, so no surprises.
My last job (volunteering at a credit union) was primarily scanning with some data entry (which I had also previously done for district nurses/health visitors wages dept). I loved scanning which was great as nobody else wanted to do it. I just could not get used to working in an office with several other people and the politics that goes with it. Then came a round of redundancies anounced whereby my workload was going to increase. I didn't hang around for the increased stress that would have definately come with it - manager divided across two separate offices... . Aaarghhh nightmare, lemme out of here. When I worked in a medical library I had the place virtually to myself most days. Even when junior doctors were in there doing their research they were quiet using the computers. It was bliss and I got so much more done. Env is important.
This sounds good but some of us don’t get to know what the work environment will be like until we’re placed in it and then it’s just “ sick or swim”. I taught for 21 years and then after one year of teaching online just could not do it anymore. Now I’m trying to find something that pays close to what I made and haven’t found it. The “in the mean time” is bringing so much that I dislike to the surface that it’s what’s prompting me to check into a diagnosis… misophonia, hyperacusis, not wanting to chit chat, being extremely blunt…. which then makes me look like I’m not a “team player“ but a “ difficult “ employee🤔and making a third of what I was previously making.
My [horrible] therapist told me yesterday, that getting diagnosed doesn’t matter and that the world doesn’t care if I am ASD. Harsh. I am 31 and have been fighting since age 24 to get diagnosed. My past Drs told me they did not believe in female autism. I am so burned out and anxious and overwhelmed from all of the intense normal jobs I keep doing.
Your current therapist is right and wrong. What she got right is that the world indeed doesn't care about your diagnosis. An employer isn't going to change it's environment to suit everyone's special needs. It's just NOT possible to do that for every single person on this planet. That's why every person, autistic or not, needs to find a job to THEIR needs, and not the other way around. What she got wrong here is that getting a diagnose is definitely important for you because again, this can seriously help you to find you a job that suits your needs. Female autism definitely exist. Females are just way better in masking. What a dumb ass therapist you had in the past. I'm sorry for that. You should demand another therapist as well. You should have a connection with your therapist, not some random idiot who bought his degree under a table in some dark corner of the black market.
im autistic and i have very severe agoraphobia and anxiety. i find working and interacting with people extremely difficult. My mother is not sympathetic and I'm basically on my own with no medication or financial help in any way. I am in college but almost homeless. its definitely hard out here but people like you who post things like this help so much. you make it all more manageable. thank you
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a benefit that autistic adults may be eligible for if they have limited income and resources, and can show that their autism symptoms are severe enough to limit their ability to work. The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates SSI payments by subtracting an individual's countable income from the maximum federal benefit rate. As of October 2023, the average SSI payment for autistic adults was $1,665.14 per month, with a maximum of $943.
To be honest that is very individual. There's autistic people I know that I would not want to have as teachers as teaching isn't just about being good at something and telling others how to do it. But you need social skills and be able to read other humans and be able to handle situations that not all with autism can do.Same goes for scientist. It's individual and a matter of how much it impact it has on your life. Scientist is also very.... broad. Being a "geek" and being able to sink deep into a topic doesn't mean you're a good scientist and there's a big difference in how scientists from different areas or even within the same area work. Some work more in groups than others, some need more people skills than others etc.
@@sharatainx3990 Yeah. If I tried to teach in my twenties it probably would have gone badly. Now I've had a lot of practice reading people, and I removed an empathy block. I don't think I could teach a big class though...
I haven’t been diagnosed but I have alot of autistic traits (with ADD diagnosed in childhood), and all these you mention are things I would love to do and I think I would be good at it, especially being an artist and a homeschooling mother. The problem I see the most in my life is How to get organised, socially, temporally and money wise... I know I have SO MUCH to offer to the world but I don’t know HOW, and that is extremely frustrating.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask
I'm 63 years old and was told by a young friend on the spectrum recently that "of course you know how it feels to be on the spectrum in a world full of "normies." I had no idea. So, I asked my therapist if she thought I was on the spectrum and she just shrugged and said, "Yeah." Oh. It's amazing how I'd grown used to the idea that life is simply difficult, especially for me, and that there must be "something wrong with me" but now that I have an idea of what's going on, it's becoming easier to live with my differences. Thanks for putting out this informative material for women on the spectrum, and please keep up the good work!
(Sharon Shneyer)Hi Danielle, I'm also 63 and didn't get diagnosed until I was 47 and then a few years later with ADHD. My late mother had it, as I can clearly see the similarities, but neither of my parents were alive when I got the results, they had both passed away 2 years earlier. I have had jobs in the past, but they never worked out. At one time I was on disability and hope too again. It is really hard being misunderstood, and having things not come out the way you want to. It also effects my writing. I didn't watch the video, but saved it and forwarded it to the person who runs my adult Asberger's support group.
Hi @Danielle In high school a counselor after several interviews and tests said I was borderline but because my IQ was put in the gifted range, the counselor decided not to give the label ASD as I should be able to manage, but also said the traits were on the spectrum. Life has been very rough after what I thought was a secure future, that I worked so hard to get to, kept falling through. I have trouble working on certain schedules and get stressed out and bent out, but if left to my own to manage myself when I have ups and down, then I can do well. Now very concerned but watching some of these videos has also helped me. I’m older middle aged as well. In trouble financially. Definitely need to find work that I can do. I ended up having many friends who were labeled autistic and usually felt better with them, like we could relate. Seeing some of these videos, I realize more about my situation. These videos are great, and I am also appreciating the helpful information.
How can we get this job? AI let you know! Seems worth looking into. Merchandiser. I am overseas and want to come back. Was in SanDiego. Problem is housing even if had the job. Also transport. Yes, very ridged schedule gets me quite sick too and seems pointless.
I have someone very close to me on the spectrum. As a result of loving them and learning over the years I’ve come to spot it in people. Each person in the world is completely different but there are some traits you can see if you are looking. I now have to hold my tongue because not all people would appreciate me telling them that. I find it too bad because it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Anyway, enjoy getting to know the reasons behind the real you. There are many gifts. My loved one on the spectrum is my greatest gift and the person I most admire.
I stock shelves at a walmart. It's probably the worst job I've ever had. It's not even a social thing (well mostly, management is really bad). It's that the job is so mind-numbingly boring that I easily lose touch with my own body and I'm consumed in my thoughts. Not a good place to be with burnout.
My daughter is 22 and left college last year. She wants to work but doesn’t know what job to do. This was a great post and I will show this to her. She thinks she’s unemployable because of of being autistic and suffers anxiety ect badly. Thank you so much for this post it’s very uplifting and hope is out there for autistic people. ❤
Does she want to work as a teachers assistant or paraprofessional in a school that pays good benefits? She might like that and a college education will lead to better pay.
@@lindaversil1121 No, unbelievably teachers have very mean spirited groups that want to control and eliminate people with differences. If you are outside the group there is a lot of bullying. I am a teacher with a masters degree and experience but for anyone with anxiety, it is a terrible job.
@@v.m.8472 I meant a teacher assistant in a preschool working with babies or little kids. I work in a Jewish school that has a preschool and baby room and I am an assistant in the baby room full time and love it. I relate to the babies and toddlers very well. And this school pays well.
It is also important that she respects herself and doesn't overly adapt to a position. She is allowed to ask for help linked with autism. Otherwise as she gets older it will lead her to burn out. I was only diagnosed at 40 as autistic and my whole life i adapted so well to jobs! I even easily got jobs! But i was the modified neurotypical me like an actress and it has lead me to severe physical condition today: no noise tolerance tinitus severe anxiety chronic fatigue not knowibg who i am where are my true limits.. a scary place to be! But for 20 years i got jobs and looked normal to people and was independant.. to such a cost aside even when i was employed... i just didnt understand and wanted so badly to be normal and independant. So yes autistic people can be emplpyed but beforehand they need to know themselves and their limits!
I am ADHD Autistic and I work at a library. I love it! 💖 I am surrounded by books all day and my collection of knowledge is useful. I still get anxious sometimes when I interact with people but it’s been mostly positive. I also do side work with Japanese musicians mostly doing PR, event scheduling, and marketing stuff.
Wow. The world of PR, event scheduling, and marketing seem like they would be hectic and chaotic. What is it like from your perspective doing that job?
I would have loved to work in a library, but I could never get in and I wasn't sure enough I would like it enough to go back to college for a degree. I'm in Florida so they have an excess of senior citizens and others who volunteer at the library for free.
@@kitsune0rei I don’t have a librarian degree, I have a dual bachelors in Marketing and East Asia Studies, so I am a librarian assistant. I specialize in working with teens in an urban setting. We do a lot more than books so it’s not a traditional library system.
Lovely: librarian and pr. One job nurtures the latter (knowledge, creativity find better ways to communicate to sponsor events...). I personally would enjoy librarian, but with an hint of art labs for various age people (currently I am teaching in middle grade)
The unfortunate part of trying to do merchandising (because I've looked into a few jobs doing so) is that you have to travel from store to store...it's kinda hard for those of us that don't drive. It sucks a lot because it sounds like a job I truly wouldn't mind doing. 😔
Many large stores such as Walmart have overnight stock personel. It isn't perfect, because you do have supervisors and customers around you (if the store is open 24hrs), but in theory/sometimes you can wear your own clothes, the store is pretty deserted, and you just are left alone to stock the shelves. You do have a regular schedule, and less autonomy but it's a similar idea.
Thank you for this. Most people don't understand how hard it is for autistic people to find work. I worked in a restaurant before college as a hostess. It was the Worst job for me.Food service is awful. Customers complain all the time over things you have no control over.Waitresses get mad when you don't seat enough people in their section which is understandable because they rely on tips. What they didn't understand is a lot of people ask for a certain table. I melted down half way through the summer and quit It helped me realize I could never work with people. People can be the worst. I'm glad you found a job that works for you, Olivia.😀
I'm sorry the FOH was not the right fit. It's not a great place for those of us on the spectrum. However, BOH, (in the kitchen for those who haven't worked in the industry) is a great place to work for us. Kitchens are VERY inclusive....no one cares who you are, or how you are, just that you can do the work. And much of kitchen work is very organized and repetitive, which works well for many of us. And kitchen folk are the kindest, nicest, most interesting folks you can ever spend 10 hours a day with, day in day out.
All of my jobs have been in food service. I am trying to build my resume up with more art based work considering that I have a bachelor's in visual art.
I'm 60 and I'm autistic and I'm self employed. I clean houses and businesses. So my schedule is fixed but not rigid and I made the schedule. My child who is 32 and autistic is the business manager for a medical office. No autistic person is like another...even autistic twins are different. Your job would be too boring for me. So each person needs to find where they belong
After struggling with retail jobs, my daughter found success with a school district. She needs structure (M-F & 30 hrs/wk) and has the same task every day. The bonus is she gets health insurance, sick/vacation days, and works on a school calendar so gets all the holidays and school breaks off including summer. The breaks give her the time needed so she doesn't burn out and a consistent pay check. Retail was just all over the place and did so much damage to her mentally. This may not work for everyone but this has been wonderful for her confidence and sense of independence. Your job sounds amazing, best of luck to you!
Can I ask what job she's doing in the school district? I'm 34, autistic, and back to school now that my own daughter is in school. I'm doing a 2-year office admin accounting program and my sister has suggested working in a school office.
I'm a 32 year old autistic and I work for my local school district as a para educator. The school year schedule has been my life savor as far as being able to keep a job. Having Summers off is awesome. I work part time but get full time benefits. The only thing that is challenging about this job is the sensory overload from working with kids. I'm out at recess with kindergarten-5th graders for 3.5 hours a day and seeing 400+ kids a day is very overwhelming. I still have shutdowns quite often, but I'm able to use my sick leave for mental health days.
She works as a child nutrition assistant (cafeteria). It's a physical job (on her feet & lifting heavy items) but her task are relatively the same each day. She's been at this job longer than any of her retail jobs so she's very happy about that. For her, she has to know how her day is going to go so she doesn't have any panic attacks or meltdowns.
@@JennaGetsCreative School districts have all kinds of part-time jobs that can really work for you when your child is in school. I highly recommend you check out your local school district!
I’m self-diagnosed and in the process of getting a formal diagnosis, and I work in a warehouse packing food boxes and it’s really nice to be able to tune out everything with music! Sometimes it’s overstimulating but being able to leave work at work is amazing 🥰
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
@@chirstopherj Sir you are a *stranger* on the internet - maybe stop heckling these ppl and trying to find out about their location/personal info (edit: also referring to your other comment thread on this vid)
I loved this video! It reminded me that one of the best jobs I ever had was as a janitor at a tattoo parlor. I went in twice a week, sometime before the parlor opened, and cleaned, stocked all the supplies, laundered and folded the towels, and set up the work stations for the day. I worked alone, I got to organize the shop, I’ve always loved doing laundry (especially towels!), and it felt so good to leave it all perfect behind me. What was funny was that I had a master’s degree in international studies…so on the one hand, I was completely underemployed….but I was also completely happy. There was no stress or anxiety like I usually have with aa job. I am so glad you found this work. 😊
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
I’m autistic and I work as a massage therapist! Anatomy and the body as a whole is a special interest, but I knew I could never take the high stress work of a nurse or doctor. I get to be in a softly lit room and wear clothes I find comfy that are still professional. Yes, there’s the socialization aspect but there’s a BIG difference between interacting with 3-5 people a day one on one (some of whom are silent the whole time!) and doing even an office job where you have to talk to lots of coworkers in a brightly lit office. Not that an office job can’t work, my best friend is also autistic and has an office job and likes to pretend they’re in a tv show set in an office. Like you said though, a lot of us find office environments really difficult Anyway thank you for this video! I don’t see this discussed often!
MT here too - studied 1 year of manual therapy at osteopathic college as well and love nerding through anatomy knowledge, trigger points, kinetic chains etc. :)
I see a MT regularly and she's my favourite. She's in tune with me and is okay with not being chatty. I feel super safe with her 🥰 All my jobs have been remote (bless), with the exception of an internship at college, though most times I spent in front of a computer with little socializing. My supervisors went on a month-long vacation after I got hired and they seemed to be okay with leaving and entrusting me since the work got done (with nothing broken).
I also work in an office BUT I do mostly data entry work all the day, with little bits of phone communication in the last 1-2 hours. I also use my Loop earplugs whenever the noise is overstimulating and make a point of going for a daily walk on my lunch break - great to stretch thy legs and destimulate 🤗
I just realized that one reason I like my job as a teacheri is that I do not really have to socialize. That sounds weird, but when you think about it, you are on your own a lot, and you talk to students, in your role as a teacher, but not as much to adults, so it's different from masking. It's less tiring for me than to talk with adults.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
Medical coding. You can work remotely (from home) your entire career and you’re just reading code sets and following rules all day. Bonus points if your *special interest* or passion is anatomy and physiology and other aspects of healthcare.
A close relative of mine used to be a traveling merchandiser in Nebraska for Nestle products, she only changed job because she moved out of state. Lots of driving but alone and very independent most of the time. She was also dealing with customers and got to the point where she made and wore a shirt that said sorry, i don’t work here and she’d point at it if anyone started talking to her lol😂
I've worked mostly freelance, or for an agency. This way I don't have to get involved too much with other colleagues. I also do a lot of driving. Mostly on my own. I have very brief customer interactions. Occasionally I have to share the driving or hang around with staff waiting to leave on an assignment. This is difficult. Thankfully it's rare and I can manage it. Self employment is difficult for me though, my ADHD really struggles with the administration and Tax. Really struggles.
Honestly it sucks so much to have profitable talents but an inability to capitalize on them. I think I could probably manage as a programmer as it's something that's a strong skill for me, however I feel like I would have to work well below my skill level to not be stressed and anxious all the time. I always run into the same problem of burning hot, and then burning out which makes holding down a job very difficult. Fortunately this works pretty well in my self employed career as a game designer as I can work at my own pace and deliver product in bulk (big update or new game launch every few months or couple of years) and that works well, but if you stuck me in a professional work environment doing that I think I would have to quit unless it was a cakewalk of a job. It's also super invalidating feeling as people around you think you're lazy despite you mentally running laps around them. I have a lot of skills due to special interest congruence, but my delivery is a handful of projects a year rather than a 9 to 5 weekly delivery type of job.
I’m 20 and haven’t had a job yet because of all my anxiety towards working conditions (specifically knowing I can’t control much) and my mom is finally forcing me to get a job this summer. Last night after doing a deep dive on your channel (and a suspicion since middle school) I believe that I may be autistic and plan to bring it up to my therapist this week. Your channel has been so validating for me as it has made so much in my life make sense. Thank you for all that you do and giving me the resources/language to finally bring it up to my therapist after constantly pushing the idea back.
Pray for me please, all of you. I have my adult assessment for autism on Friday after nearly a year of waiting. Also, I work in a similar situation. I work in inventory for a high tech factory. There is only 1 other person in my area and it is behind a locked door I control badge access to. I basically created the entire department out of 2 texts and a sticky note. And I helped hire a person (another friend of mine with Aspergers) so it meshes perfectly. Everything has structured hyper specific instructions and routine. We also have 4 storage rooms and both of us will happily leave to another room to give the other person space.
@@abbyanderson3679 thank you! I so appreciate it! In the intake the psychiatrist agreed with me that my first diagnosis was wrong which seems really positive to me.
You made it this far in life and sounds like the Force is with you. Your prayers are working. All is well. And whatever comes your way is going to be a Blessing designed perfectly for you. Love will guide the way.😊
I work in the field of vocational rehabilitation. We provide supportive employment to people with disabilities who struggle to maintain a job. Across America states vary in the extent of these sorts of programs, but if anyone reading this is struggling to maintain a job due to a disability, look into vocational rehabilitation programs. Keywords to search for in your area: supportive employment, job coaching, vocational rehabilitation, on the job training, sourceamerica, CARF, abilityone, WIOA
Good for you that you have a job that you like. Unfortunately, most state vocational rehabilitation programs do not offer any services for neurodivergent people. The services that they do offer, if, like me, you happen to be classified as disabled by the Social Security Administration, are inadequate as the stated goal of VR programs is any job available at minimum wage. The idea of vocational rehabilitation is wonderful, but the actual implementation is highly political and fails to employ people at living wages. If you can find the state-by-state or regional office outcome stats online (they are hard to locate) the numbers are unfortunately abysmal.
My son has autism and cognitive delays. He works as a lot attendant at Home Depot which allows him to walk around outside and work off excess energy. He also has superficial social interactions with customers and is able to follow safe lifting rules. My wife was diagnosed with autism and ADHD as an adult and she works as a personal support worker for adults with disabilities. She creates her own schedule and works when she can on a one on one basis teaching them basic living skills and ensures their needs are being met. She can work with just one client or several depending on what she wants. I personally was officially diagnosed with ADHD though I have strong suspicions that I may also be on the spectrum. I don’t have as many of the hypersensitivity issues but struggle with social interactions and feeling my own emotions. I’m an X-ray tech at a hospital. It allows me to get up and walk around a lot and every day is different from the next. Not a good career if you have sensory issues or a strong gag reflex though lol. I had to do desk work calling patients at the beginning of the Covid pandemic and it was pure torture to my soul. I detest desk work and hate making phone calls. It would be great if there were more talent scouts that would match jobs to people on the spectrum based off of their strengths and needs. Everyone is so different.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
Interesting. One wonders whether propriocetion, in the lifting of weight (boxes, etc.), is helpful to assuage anxious feelings he may have on the job? Proprioception really helps autistic people to feel more secure.
Totally agree with your job choice, stocking shelves, or otherwise store organization whereby you do not have to socially interact is a great job for someone on the spectrum. In general, for Aspies, self-employment work related to a special interest is the best option for all autistics, but it can be hard to make enough money to thrive.
I deliver auto parts to mechanics three days a week. I’m diagnosed ADHD and likely on the spectrum. I don’t last long at most jobs due to social aspects. I love that I can control my environment ie the car I drive…my music, my food, my temperature, etc. There is very little social interaction required. Most mechanics & drivers are men so much easier to communicate (no trying to understand women hinting). Being able to constantly move is great for ADHD. Being able to constantly hum is great for my autism. I have an extremely good mental map so I can design the best route in my head for any combo of deliveries that come up. I live in a scenic area with forests, farms, fields and streams…and I enjoy the beauty of 4 seasons in New England. When not delivering, I stock shelves with auto parts by part number which is fun because it’s organizing and the stockroom/warehouse is quiet. In my area, many mechanics works in barns out in the woods on dirt roads so basically zero traffic! I love that I can wear the company Tshirt n jeans and nobody cares that I don’t wear makeup or forget to brush my hair.
I worked as a Dogwalker for a Pet Care company for a few years. It was a great job for me - I love most animals, I got outside into Nature, flexible hours, I could get cover from others if I or my son was sick. Hoping to get back to it soon - got some physical health issues at the moment. Thanks Olivia! It's great that lots of things are going well for you! 🙂❤T
This is what I do. I own my own pet sitting business; I have for 15 years, and, at 40, I rather recently realized I'm autistic. I'm glad you had a pawsitive experience, too! 💜
@@treesapgrl I know 🙂 I noticed the similarity a while ago. At first I thought it might be a covert 'message' from someone 🙂 but figured out it was just coincidence. All the best ❤ Theresa
@@Treezp1LOL nope. My name is Amber, and since fossilized tree-sap is Amber, my BFF's mom dubbed me Treesapgrl back in the 90's and it's been my name online ever since. Pleased to meet you, Theresa!
But how on earth do you survive on working only 6-10 hours a week?!?! I’d love to work a flexible job that caters to my needs but I have bills to pay!!!
A friend of mine did this job when her kids were in pre-school & kindergarten. She liked it because it could work around their schedule and even if they got sick.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
I was a merchandiser for 12 years and loved it. I worked through SPAR and Nestle and made a good living out of it, travelled the whole state and a few neighboring states as needed (and with good compensation). I raised two of my daughters on that income and loved the flexibility that it provided.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
I had a merchandising job like this in pet stores and I can testify that it was a stellar job for autistic people! Now that I’m pretty sure I am (age 37), it totally makes sense why that kind of a job suited me so well. If I just woke up one day and had inexplicable anxiety or the weather for driving was bad, I could just reschedule the day’s tasks! And I loved being able to interact with people and their animals. I got paid in doggie kisses as well as money:) And one of my special interests is pet care so I got to help others care for their furry friends!
In the world of productivity, the business world too often doesn’t have much grace for what’s going on in our minds, autistic or otherwise. I’ve recently reached a point where I feel like I have nothing left to get on my job. I picked up substitute teaching at my local school district and it’s refreshing. I’m technically working 2 jobs right now but I feel like at default, I have always found myself teaching others things. I may have hid from it in a while but sometimes you’ve got life is telling you. I feel like I’ve got education in my blood I should embrace it.
I so enjoy listening to you. I am 100% positive I am on the spectrum but trying to tell people is nearly impossible. They all get this look and start shaking their heads like I’m an idiot for self-diagnosing. WTH? If I don’t know myself who does? So I just grit my teeth and enjoy learning the why’s of what I have been living with my whole life. I’m not broken, after all….thank God and you Ms. Hops.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
@@chirstopherj Are you a con-artist or a predator? Forgive me if I'm wrong and I hope I am but I would like to warn more trusting people than I that my alarm bells are ringing LOUD. If this man befriends you / gains your trust and then asks you for money for any sob story then please don't fall for it. I would love to explain the 4 reasons why I feel this, so that others can see why I feel this way but that would also give this alleged doctor a heads up on what he's doing wrong. Love your video Olivia, thank you for being 'out there'.
I don't know if I'm autistic, but I highly suspect it. I've never had problems with being on time or getting jobs. But I burn out so fast and the worst is, my job is 99% dealing with people. I teach online. I'm good at my job, expect for a couple of d**kheads, the students are nice. But I want to cry everytime I think about this job, it is SO straining, I hate every second of i, I'm consistently stressed. People don"'t understand. They tell me "You have to deal with people in any job". Yes it's true, but that's my WHOLE job. It's litteraly taking a toll on my whole life and weelbeing. I'm doing all I can to transition and do my own business. But I feel seen for the first time. It's not just me. And that is such a relief ♥
I’m autistic and I work as a wire cutter/cable assembler! I am grateful for my job. My coworkers and managers are very comforting and helpful. Especially my manager. He has allowed me to talk with him and made me feel better very quickly. I work in a respectable and clean building with engineers and very smart people! I enjoy it greatly. The noise can deeeefinitely overstimulate me and many days I twitch and can’t control my face and neck from moving but I accept myself and no one cares. 😆❤️
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
I'm 69 and psychologist. I can very rapidly analyse a situation and with my knowlegde of psychology i'm very good in my job. I know what people are feeling but i am able to set bounderies in my empathy. I have years that i was exhausted and then i stopped my job on regular basis. Now i can work for 2 days with the pensionmoney i have. When i was exhausted of seeing people i worked in factories for a conveyor belt job. it cleared my head and a few years later i continue to be a psychologist.It was not easy.
Thank you Olivia for speaking on such an important topic. I worked for twenty years as a SCUBA diver at an organic fish farm. Being underwater in almost complete silence was amazing; interacting with the fish and seals etc, and discovering "new to me" creatures on a daily basis. Unfortunately above the surface the job got noisier and noisier with diesel compressors and generators. Then I got promoted to supervisor where I started to get bullied for being neurodivergent by one of my crew. I discovered I am autistic while trying to figure out what was happening, as I crashed and burned out from anxiety two years ago at age 46. I think a troubleshooting job would be good for me. Maybe building maintenance? Maybe something outside? I hate being stuck indoors with artificial lights because most buildings have sick air and reverberate chaotic noise. Right now I work in a warehouse, building a dairy route for a delivery driver. It's like playing tetris in a freezer. I have a large window to complete the work, it just has to be ready by the time the driver shows up. The fans are noisy but my noise cancelling headphones playing music eliminates that issue. It's not a living wage but it buys food and I enjoy it. I used to do bread merchandising in supermarkets, like Walmart and such. It was a daily job and long heavy work which caused me sleep deprivation, but I could do it at my own pace. Unfortunately some of these big companies keep taking more and more money away from the drivers which means I was overworked and underpaid and I couldn't maintain that pace. If school had been able to accommodate my needs I think I might have been an astrophysicist or something. I love unraveling scientific mysteries and exploring the unknown. I find the very nature of our Universe to be endlessly fascinating. Fact is we still don't know what matter is, what gravity is, or what consciousness is! We can describe how they behave but not why! This is amazing to me and I keep doing experiments at my own level to learn more.
I am amazed that you saw seals at an organic fish farm. I am curious about the scientific experiments you run. Have you come up with any that would test why things work the way they do rather than how? I always thought the why was more in the purview of philosophy rather than science.
@@nightyew2160 Organic fish farms are actually vibrant artificial reefs full of sea life. Many smaller fish use the structure to hide from predators. Which brings the predators. We had one seal that was able to sneak instead the main protective enclosure. He would play with us while we completed our work. As for experiments. It's more about a philosophy of setting up parameters to test things. I haven't recorded anything, it's more about personal understanding and growth. I am constantly trying to understand the "why". Philosophy and science are both trying to understand the nature of our Universe and I think they make great partners.
I loved reading your comment, how you went from job things to higher mysteries of the universe. I used to think maybe I could work for NASA or something looking for life on other planets. I loved looking at the stars,and in addition to college courses in Math,Computer science, I also took a lot of Astronomy classes. But FINISHING anything seem elusive to me, I don't like asking for help, so nothing happened. Never graduated, etc. BUt still cannot help but wonder about these things, like String Theory and all the rest. It's that middle of the road survival stuff that eludes me. Office politics, ugh. I think I'd be able to get along fine if I had a Replicator like in Star Trek, for food and small items like clothing. And a transporter if absolutely necessary. And access to a Holodeck for when I want to travel safely or be around safe people.
@@recoveringsoul755 Thanks for sharing. I had a similar experience with school. I was never able to do any homework in high school. Despite that I passed all my courses with relative ease, except social studies, so they didn't let me graduate. I am reminded of Albert Einsteins experience with high school. Our current system is not designed to educate people based on how they learn. Quantum mechanics and astrophysics are something I pursue for fun. I don't agree with string theory but it's neat to think about. Listening to them talk about the latest discoveries of the proton is fascinating. Our three quark model is inaccurate and it turns out there is a lot more going on inside protons. I agree with you on Star Trek. A replicator and holodeck and I feel like I can avoid all the trauma our society causes me!
I love your comment and finding if fascinating that I keep seeing the same scenario in comments….people hit middle age and at some point “burn out” and find that they simply can’t continue in the line of work they’ve e been doing, some for over 10-15 years. What is happening to us, at that point to cause the sudden revelation? I’ve got a. Masters degree but the only job I can do comfortably without stress pays very little? How do you live then? Where’s the balance in that scenario? 😢
I'm 22, and I just graduated from college. I never had part time jobs during my college years. I had access for free education that is managed by the Gov't funded from the taxpayers money. My parents already provided me everything that I need, and they wanted me to focus on my studies. But some part of me were jealous to my other peers who can both work and study. But even if I wanted to, there's no way I can hold a job properly like every normal persons. I have slow brain processing, I am clumsy. And I get overwhelmed easily when I'm sensory overloaded.
I had a similar transition into VM after burning out from an office-based role in media which I really loved, realising I'm Autistic (and getting fired from a similar position after 3 weeks) and picking up a retail role in an interior design store to tide me over. Immediately they were impressed with how quickly i picked up things like folding the textiles and getting the proportions right consistently on the first go so I'm getting tasked more that way and I genuinely am fulfilled by having the short (albeit scripted) interactions with customers and helping them solve an issue compared with the pressure of developing the perfect depth of shallow 'storyline' for office chit chat.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
As long as you like touch, massage therapy is a great job. Interacting with people is one-oon-one (and you can largely control how much talking goes on), you can control all the sensory input in the treatment room (light level, sound, decor), it's a combination of analysis and creativity, and it's physical work. If you work for yourself you have to do the marketing, but there are lots of places you can work that will do that for you. There are lots of environments to work in from medical settings to spas and all the places in between. The type of place you work determines how flexible your schedule is. Full time work for a massage therapist is 25 hours of massage a week (typically the only time you are paid for). Depending on place of employment, you might spend other time on laundry, SOAP notes, cleaning, research, etc.
I am not autistic (my son is, which is why I'm here), but I went to school with an autistic gentleman. I was super impressed by how seriously he took every session and practice. Personally, I became a therapist because of a sensory disorder and the massage room is an oasis of peace for me. It's also nice for my ADHD, as I find there is enough change every session, that I don't get bored and stay engaged.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
I’ve been burnt out by my job as a graphic designer. I love the work, it’s work from home, and my boss is very flexible and allows me certain accommodations. But I still get overwhelmed at the occasional busy schedule, meetings, and creative block. I’ve been thinking about getting a job like that where I just have to organize things like stocking shelves, packaging stuff, makings beds, or even cleaning. I really like the idea of a repetitive job where I can just turn off my brain and be on autopilot. Plus I do find a lot of joy in organizing things. My biggest concern about those types of jobs, however, is that the salary tends to be on the lower end since they are relatively easy. I’d love to know if anyone else has experienced those kinds of jobs that pay relatively well? Anyways I’m glad you found a job that works for you! It’s definitely something I’ll keep in mind.
My pay is just over $16/hour in California. So if you worked full time, it would be about $2500/month. They also pay you for driving between your stores.
i actually love being a cashier. it’s me by myself with different customers with different personalities. i make a game on how fast i can scan the items and i even organize the groceries. i just do terrible with coworkers because i hv to mask which i’m terrible at for longer periods. but you can do grocery delivery for spark/walmart. i did and i loved it. your a gig worker and an independent contractor
You literally have my old ass up in the middle of the night searching for jobs with American greetings. My anxiety with this is having to drive-through the city. But it reminds me of jobs I was able to actually have when I was younger. Get the initial training process over with, and then go fly solo. This is actually fantastic advice. Granted I'm in my forties and I've really feel like I'm falling apart at this point, but this is something I definitely should have started when I was younger. I actually remember other people that struggled with keeping a job recommending this to me and I didn't put 2 and 2 together. You can utilize scripting abilities whenever customers come up to you. That "kill 'em with kindness" thing... Great video. Congrats and thanks for sharing.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask
I've seriously been struggling finding and keeping a job because of anxiety. Every single job I've tried recently I have been overwhelmed by social anxiety and have to quit after a couple shifts. I'm not yet diagnosed with autism but I seriously am suspecting and lately I've been so caught up by thinking I'll never be able to work job. I'm glad to hear your experience and really gives me hope I'll be able to find something.
🎉 I learned about this type of job precisely because of the "soda stockers" at the grocery store, and have definitely considered looking into it. However, I didn't recognize that so many jobs like this might exist, and be categorized as "merchandising". Very helpful! 👍 It's especially enticing any time you can make your own hours/avoid busy times, and have the freedom to come and go as needed. I really appreciate that you didn't say, "If I can do it, ANYONE can." If I had a dollar for every time someone said this ~ and was Wrong, I would definitely not need a job... This was excellent. Thank you. SO glad you are enjoying your work now!
I am almost 25 and have worked in customer service since I was 17 and absolutely hated it, it was so draining and customers could be so rude. I now work in a hospital lab away from direct patient contact and it is so much better. It just took me a while to get used to my coworkers, but it’s the best job I’ve ever had.
I have not been diagnosed as on the spectrum, but have a son & grandson on the spectrum. I am almost 61 and see no reason to be diagnosed now. I have always been defined as OCD or being anal and just always accepted that for what it was. I find this channel very uplifting and informative. Glad that someone finally addressed females on the spectrum, the masking, how well we disguise things and the eventual crash & burn we experience when we become over stimulated/tired. Great work Olivia!
I work as a programmer now after changing jobs from doing health and safety. Choosing the right company with the right people around you is so important to be able to thrive in the workplace. It's especially important to be in the right profession which meets your intellectual and social needs as well. I've had a lot of difficulty in the past due to my autism, bipolar, and anxiety which took its toll. All of that led me to burnout by the end of my last job (it was during the first year of COVID). I am in a better place now since changing careers but it hasn't been easy, nevertheless, I think I have done fairly well all things considered.
Have any advice for technical interviews? I'm fortunate that I'm able to do volunteer stuff right now and if it goes well, the said they'd be able to hire me properly, but I've wanted to get into a part time job working from home with a real tech company, but always fail those interviews because it's overwhelming and I'm terrified of having a meltdown on camera. I just can't deal with pressure, especially where my ADHD affects my working memory. I got accommodations for cheat sheets in university, but they don't really have anything that helps for talking to people, other than taking medication which is hit or miss for me.
Merchandising is a great job! I’ve been merchandising plants in a garden center for 3 years. It’s such a blessing, I never thought I’d find a job I enjoyed and be able to work comfortably.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
I'm 29, I've known that I have ADHD for years, but when its symptoms have (somewhat) subsided in my mid-20s I realized that I also have always been autistic (ADHD had just been louder the whole time). I've been thinking about what jobs could suit a person like me, as I've come to realize it's not even a question of having a career per se, it is more about having a job at all. I could, of course, get a job as a sales manager like my best friend did (she recommended me for a vacancy they had and I even went to an interview), but chances are a few months in I would have a meltdown and a burnout. I don't see myself working in a highly competitive environment. I also don't see myself having any job where I would have to be extraverted and spend my energy on pleasing people. I have come to terms with the fact that our world expects everyone to 'succeed,' but an autistic/ADHD person should learn that success might just look different for us. I've always been fascinated with foreign languages and as a teen I thought, how wonderful it would be to work as a translator, only working with the given text and having to interact at max with your editor. This is the profession I got, with much effort, but I'm not making as much money as my peers (where I live this is not a very luctative profession, the pay is on par with the average or lower). I'm also thinking we could thrive (not in monetary terms) in such professions as a librarian, a kindergarten teacher, a writer, a professional caretaker, maybe a doctor or a researcher (when it's possible), a dog groomer, a zoo keeper, etc.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
glad you found a suitable job for you! 👍✨ i had a similar job in a clothing store but i didn't really like it (i'm also autistic). i thought the days were too boring and understimulating, i guess i need a little bit of change to keep me motivated. i currently work as a personal assistant for disabled people. i help them with everyday tasks such as cleaning and cooking and i've enjoyed it so far. i love to help people and i'm actually starting my social work studies next year. the only problem is that i'm so sensitive and start crying easily if people yell at me. i hope i'll get over my fears since that might become a problem in my future jobs 😩
It is really nice to hear you talk about not having a rigid schedule but structuring it in a way that works for you. I have a job where my schedule varies from days to months but once I’m there I follow the same steps for a successful day. It makes it so I don’t feel bored but I feel safe in having a routine at work. Also, once I leave work I am done, I don’t bring it home with me which is so good for my mental health as well, I feel.
Its great that you found something, I worked retail for quite some time until I fell over and did enjoy merchanidising for sure, but that job still left me empty inside. I wish there was some way to mass try a whole bunch of jobs and see what fits us all the best 😆
First video of yours I'm watching but I love the joy expressed so much. Also some mixture of envy and wow about how supportive the relationship with your mom sounds!
Olivia! It is so interesting that I came across this video when I did. I was just looking for job opportunities and ran across a merchandiser opening for Hallmark. I said, hey! That sounds perfect for me! I won’t actually be able to work for a few more years (my youngest starts kindergarten then), but I’m so glad that I now know what to look for when that time comes! I also love cleaning and organizing and hospitality setting and might start a cleaning and organizing business in the future. Love your channel! ❤
Thank you for sharing this info. It's always really insightful for me to hear your thoughts. My oldest daughter is autistic and we enjoy listening to and watching your content and perspective. I love it when she nods and agrees with you. Her whole face lights up and I can see how empowering and inspiring it is for her to see you on youtube discussing feelings, thoughts and ideas that she shares.
I was an English Language teacher for almost 3 years and I loved it so much! I only started struggling once the pandemic started and we moved to online classes. Now I'm back in college so I work part time as a cleaner in a long term care home and I enjoy it as well. It's a straightforward, mindless job and now that I've been there for a couple of months I occasionally chat with some of the residents and other workers which is nice. I also just started working at a fast food place but I don't know if that's the right place for me, we'll see I guess.
I love you so much for this, I've never heard of this job but I feel hopeful for the first time in years that I might be able to keep a job without feeling like I'm slowly dying inside. Everything you described is so much like me, even the part where you don't like strict schedules and need some leniency. You're awesome and you make me smile, I hope you're happy, and I hope everyone watching this can find happiness too, it's hard out here for all of us. ❤
Most of my jobs have been in chaos, up until a few years ago. Invariably I took on the role of creating a functional system, either procedurally or organizationally. I just thought I was good at organization. I would get so overwhelmed by the chaos, that I would overhaul the place as a way to restore my sanity. Now, I work remotely for a company with established process flows, as a project manager of sorts. Sure, I have to deal with clients, but my presentations are scripted and via Teams; so, I can mask for an hour- no problem. My blood pressure has gone down, my sleep is better, and I am more financially stable than I ever was before. Becoming aware that I am on the Spectrum has been a game-changer for me. Thank you for these videos!
My aspiration is to be an archivist. I like organising things and I like spreadsheets. I volunteer one day a week, and it's my favourite day of the week. I'm just going to have to wait and see what I feel equipped to deal with after university.
Thank you so much for posting this. I've been so anxious and constantly stressing about a job because of the environment being overstimulating and being stuck in a strict schedule. This has put my mind at ease knowing that there is a job out there that I could actually handle and not quit after the first couple days. I love organizing and find a lot of satisfaction out of making things look nice and clean. Being in an environment where I can work alone will allow me to fulfill those duties without the anxiety and panic attacks that usually go along with my jobs.
I’m 15 and me and my boyfriend (who i suspect is also autistic) have no clue what we’re gonna do for a job so this is super helpful! I’m considering art, photography, something to do with animals or being a ta for other disabled kids because I’d probably be able to understand them more
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
I'm so happy for you!! I've just graduated from uni and I've been worrying a lot about how I will survive having a real job without getting really burnt out. I've been working as a childminder and find that it suits me because kids are so much more straight-forward than adults but it doesn't make enough money for me to support myself longterm.
I struggle with job interviews despite practicing with multiple people who help with them professionally. I sound robotic instead of natural. Can't we just be ourselves without being outright rude and talk to you about our skills in doing the job? Instead, I'm preoccupied with pressure to do well and all these social cues I'm supposed to follow. Masking on the spectrum is tough for me and can come off as forced.
Thank you for sharing this! I owned a small business a couple of years ago, it was fun because I was alone, I don’t have co-workers, I don’t have a rigid schedule, and I interact with people in person at least once a month. But I ended up getting burnt out because I became bored of the hustle. I wanted to do other things. I can’t read do any other hobbies, because I was so busy with the business. I really had a hard time managing my time and my boundaries. I am a workaholic if I want to work, and I am so lazy if I am just not feeling it. Then I am a mom, so there’s that another life outside of the business. The balance is so so so difficult and the number of roles I have to wear is overwhelming. (People will say, list this, schedule that, but the inner “happenings” of this kind of life with multiple hats to wear is overwhelming, and being overwhelmed because of that is a very autistic trait - which I realized a couple of years later. I thought there was something incredibly wrong with me, but it’s just really the explanation that my brain is wired differently.) But I enjoyed restocking and fixing my shelves on the stores I consigned with. It’s truly unexplainable why I love fixing stuff (even at stores I visit hahaha) So with what you are sharing here, I know merchandising will be a great job for me too. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask
Thank you for the tip. I am glad you are liking your job! To add, I am a Licensed Massage Therapist and it is one of the only jobs I have been able to stay at without meltdowns etc.
I really enjoyed listening to your video. This job sounds like something I could do. I can’t handle having to be there at exactly on the exact hour day gives me panic attacks. Thank you for sharing. It has helped me so much ❤
With a family on the spectrum, I feel fairly neuro typical... After years away from emotionally draining work and now as a full time family caregiver this sounds so appealing to me for PT work!
This sounds like an amazing job - one I'd like to do. Being a library assistant has always been in the back of my mind. Sorting, shelving and handling books in general, some social interaction (which I need), surrounded by books every day. I think I would love it
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask
My niece has special needs...it has as of yet to be diagnosed. I myself, suffer from some nervous/anxious behavior. Your video's give me hope. Keep on giving us hope.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
I’m autistic not diagnosed until I was 47. I’m a scrub nurse in operating theatres. I love it, narrow attention, little smalltalk and the patients are asleep so I can’t upset them😉
Omg, what you talked about applies to me as well! When I was about 5 or 6 years old, I would line up all my toys in a straight line on the dining room table, and for a few years I was a little messy and didn't like to clean my room, but as years went on, I discovered my organizational skills and I had a place for everything in my bedroom (and at 35 years old I still live with my parents, and my bedroom is the neatest room in the house, heehee). I just lost my job working in a library, and for years I liked working in libraries, but my communication skills are not really good sometimes and I prefer to be alone, doing my thing without people judging me or criticizing me. I get anxious being in the public eye, so I am looking for a good behind the scenes job where I will excel with my excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. I am glad I came upon the video. Thanks for sharing your story, it's really inspiring.
I think having your mom help you start with the job is ideal...I'd feel infinitely more comfortable if I had a friend or someone I know showing me what to do at first. Instead of like, a strange new employer who probably doesn't know all the little things that make me panic. But I guess starting new things is one of those times we just gotta be brave? Seeing you be able to do it makes me hopeful. Also, I've been looking for some work with low-stakes, mindless tasks. I don't want to be responsible for anything too important, and my mind needs room to wander while I'm having to exist on someone else's timeline. I have a project-based job scoring tests online but it's not enough work to keep me alive anymore. UGH everything is so scary. But I'm glad to have seen this.
Thank you so much for this video! I'm currently self diagnosed but on the journey to get a formal diagnosis. I'm a swim teacher through the education department. I really struggle in this job and have had many meltdowns at work and just constantly burnt out which sometimes leads to depression. I can't manage to work 5 days a week and I'm only working a couple hours but still can't commit to the full week. I thought working with kids would be okay but I do have to heavily interact supervisors, parents and other instructors. And the other things that go along with the job like teaching different stages in one class, supervising 12 kids at one time, controlling really misbehaved children, trying to accommodate kids with severe special needs and the paperwork that needs to be done. Working in a busy leisure centre is also a real struggle for me as it's so loud I can't concentrate and I just get so overwhelmed and am very forgetful which annoys the people I work with alot. Hopefully I can find a job that I love and not dread everyday and won't be extremely anxious and overwhelmed in
I both like and dislike this video. I'm very happy you've found a position you like! And while a merchandiser job could be great for some people, the pay rates and part-time hours won't allow most of us to support ourselves. ☹️
@@OliviaHops I didn't mean to imply you said/meant that. Predominantly, most merchandising jobs are part-time. The full-time ones are usually difficult to find, at least in my area and my experience. (I've gone down that path before.) 😇
Exactly. It's privileged life. Even working full time as merchandiser is not enough to cover your needs (especially if you have children). So it's something for someone that have financial stability already. For other that are not that fortunate, it's not an option.
@@Kozli1985 No, it's not. My coworker makes plenty to live life just fine. And in Southern California no-less. You cannot speak for everyone, so don't. You come off as a flat out arrogant jerk.
I do this job too, only for a number of different clients...but YES it's the best job I've ever had. Starting when I want, working alone, keeping things orderly, and having minimal interaction with others. If I am very anxious or burning out I can just take a day or two off. I'm currently going through the diagnosis process and I've been nodding my way through this video
All of the merchandizing jobs that I've found so far require the employee/applicant to be able to physically be able to lift/carry 50 or more lbs. Are there any merchandizing jobs that do not require this?
Thank you so much for posting this info. I just applied!!! I'm 50 and haven't worked in over 15 yrs. So much anxiety. I cried because I related to everything you said. We'll see what happens!
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask
I've been looking for work again and appreciate this perspective. I've done well in home healthcare in the past due to it being one on one working with clients that just needed help with cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, etc. I would have a set routine typically and I never took on more than one client at a time. I recently applied to be a substitute teacher because the pay was appealing, but I'm second guessing it now as I think about how I am going to get a room full of kids to take me seriously when I don't take myself seriously and how I will be viewed by my peers. I've never considered being merchandiser, but now I will look into this.
I’m self diagnosed autistic, it just answers way too many confusing situations in my life. I did go through the military and I think it was a great way to figure out how to organize my life and achieve realistic goals for myself. It’s a pity that the military disqualifies autism because I think a lot of autistic people would benefit, it’s a spectrum after all. I noticed I would always get hung up on categorizing and filling everything and needing to do that. Eventually, I found a good government job as a file clerk and eventually data entry clerk. Minimal people interaction, organize things to my heart’s content, simple tasks that don’t require a lot of brain activity so I can listen to audiobooks at the same time. I left the job to start a family and caring for my family and home is my current interest. I don’t want a normal job. But if I had to go back, it would likely be file room clerk or data entry. I just love those jobs.
This video is so helpful! I was diagnosed with autism a few months ago at age 25 and have been struggling with finding a job that works for me. I'm in the early stages of the hiring process at USPS to become a mail carrier, but I have some concerns about the long hours. Merchandising seems like it might be a perfect fit and I never thought of it. Thanks so much for sharing! And thanks to everyone else in the comments who shared the jobs that worked for them.
Hello, I hope you're safe over there? I hope this year brings happiness, prosperity, and love all over the world, I would love us to be good friends in honesty and in trust if you don't mind. I'm Doctor Christopher Johnson from San Francisco, California, where are you from if I may ask?
I didn't realize that being a merchandiser was so flexible and didn't involve customer service. That's fantastic! I'm a utility and dishwasher at a retirement home dining hall, and I LOVE that every day is more or less the same. You do the same work (as long as you don't mind dirty dishes or drains/gross stuff and working with water), you rarely ever have to go to the front of house/dining area, you work totally alone, you work at your own pace, and you get to listen to stuff on your phone through wireless ear buds and tune out the restaurant bustle.