Any hints or tips please?

[APHfan14]

Hi, I'm new on here and currently in a job search.. but... having a hard time finding one that I can do or a job that will take me. The last one I had only lasted for two days and turned out to be very stressful in a retail environment. So if anyone has any advice or anything I'd be very grateful! APHFAN14 out!

 

[Judge]

The last one I had only lasted for two days and turned out to be very stressful in a retail environment. So if anyone has any advice or anything I'd be very grateful! APHFAN14 out!

Welcome to AC !

I think you'll find many of us reticent to routinely deal with the public. Perhaps that's a starting point in terms of what to avoid if possible. Not an easy thing to advocate with so many jobs opening in this sector. However it seems to be anywhere from daunting to toxic for many Aspies.

I had a good career in insurance until the job slowly evolved into more of a marketing job...which wore me down to the point of getting out before I lost my sanity. Of course at the time I didn't have a clue about ASD.

That said, my heart goes out to those of you working in retail or anything that involves constant and direct contact with people.

 

[Ereth]

It obviously isn't intended to be a magical solution to your problem, but you might find this site helpful:

Welcome | Asperger EmploymentAsperger Employment | promoting employment for adults with Asperger Syndrome and high functioning autism

 

[Saragrl]

As some one who has worked retail for 15 years and only 3 different places. The hardest part is the first month or two in a new position. Having to learn the rules of the company and of your position while dealing with the overload that comes with retail. To that end, retail is a very structured environment (though it does not seem that way), customer service is very scripted and unless your a manger you usually don't have to make tough decisions.

Out in public I am a mess socially. At work I am a very well regarded for my customer skills and for being very fair. Best advice I can give you is if put in one of those positions again, ask your manager to walk with you and show you the expectations of your position. Also stay away from cashiering work. Floor work is best for us, if things get rough on the floor you can escape to the back room for respite.

Also, retail does not have to be a team based environment, I usually hate working with others because I am not a very good communicator. It's easier and faster for me to do something than explain it. Focus on one skill at a time, and never stop learning new skills. I don't know if I speak for many aspies here, but from what I learned, more you can do, the harder you are to replace. The harder you are to replace, the more likely they will overlook days when you have overload issues and such.