Is being underemployed or struggling to get into a career that pays enough to support oneself, common for people on the autism spectrum?

[Steelbookcollector217]

What are you doing to provide a secure future for yourself? What is your long-term plan for when your parents are gone?

to be honest i don't know, all that i'm doing at the moment, is that i'm attempting to pursue a different career path, in medical billing/coding, taking online classes, the keyword is "trying" to make it my future, but to be honest i don't know if that will lead to financial stability towards me, in some ways i feel i can relate to Tony in the job/employment aspect, what makes me different from Tony is that i've had plenty of jobs in my life, while 99 Tony has been unemployed for 99 percent of his life.

It's just i've only worked regular jobs in my life, not high end professional ones or high level corporate ones, while Tony has hardly ever worked any type of job in his life, even low skilled jobs such as a Janitor or cashier.

While i've had plenty of regular jobs, such as working at a restaurant, retail place such as Target, Grocery Store, Warehouse, which is where i'm still at.

 

[Mary Terry]

to be honest i don't know, all that i'm doing at the moment, is that i'm attempting to pursue a different career path, in medical billing/coding, taking online classes, the keyword is "trying" to make it my future, but to be honest i don't know if that will lead to financial stability towards me, in some ways i feel i can relate to Tony in the job/employment aspect, what makes me different from Tony is that i've had plenty of jobs in my life, while 99 Tony has been unemployed for 99 percent of his life.

It's just i've only worked regular jobs in my life, not high end professional ones or high level corporate ones, while Tony has hardly ever worked any type of job in his life, even low skilled jobs such as a Janitor or cashier.

While i've had plenty of regular jobs, such as working at a restaurant, retail place such as Target, Grocery Store, Warehouse, which is where i'm still at.

The vast majority of people have regular jobs, not high-end professional jobs that sometimes pay well. I'm glad you're employable - it gives you some stability and control over your economic future. I don't know what will happen to Tony and sincerely hope that he is talking to his parents about it.

 

[Steelbookcollector217]

The vast majority of people have regular jobs, not high-end professional jobs that sometimes pay well. I'm glad you're employable - it gives you some stability and control over your economic future. I don't know what will happen to Tony and sincerely hope that he is talking to his parents about it.

one way Tony is lucky is that his parents had him at a very young age, i remember he said that his parents were like 19 or 20 when they had him, so that means its possible Tony will still have his folks in his life by the time he reaches his 60s, not very many people still have folks or even one parent left in their life that later in life, but yes, Tony definetley needs to have a serious talk with his folks about that.

 

[Mary Terry]

one way Tony is lucky is that his parents had him at a very young age, i remember he said that his parents were like 19 or 20 when they had him, so that means its possible Tony will still have his folks in his life by the time he reaches his 60s, not very many people still have folks or even one parent left in their life that later in life, but yes, Tony definetley needs to have a serious talk with his folks about that.

I think Tony is 59 or 60 years old now. Time is wasting away.

 

[Outdated]

It's just i've only worked regular jobs in my life, not high end professional ones or high level corporate ones...

Although I had a trade it wasn't all that much different for me. Sometimes I was highly paid but I also had social problems and changed jobs a lot and sometimes I'd just take the first job that I found to get out of where I was. I even spent 3 months cleaning toilets in a large car factory once. The pay was crap quite often but I ended up with a wealth of experiences that many people will never get.

I never had much of a plan in life, instead I just saw my life as a series of stepping stones but I could never tell when the next stone would appear in front of me or where it would take me. I just went along for the ride and found fun where I could. I had a great time, but I was always a very independent spirit. Some people can't live like that, a rolling stone gathers no moss.

I've lived by myself since I was in my 20s and I don't think I could ever change now, I like it like that. I never needed much to get by in life either, whenever I was earning good money I always spent it all, but even when I was unemployed I never seemed to struggle to pay bills or feed myself and I never went in to debt at all.

My advice is to live the life that you feel suits you best and not bother "keeping up with the Jones's.". If you're comfortable and happy then I'd consider you to be successful.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I started my career with a three year diploma, after a five year high school diploma lots of math and science. Took my first position started adding related industry courses taking certificates like climbing ladder each time I changed positions I added new experience and skills Either way had no idea I was on spectrum. Just thought I was overcoming bad luck, Took quality courses after noticing I really enjoyed this area.

 

[Steelbookcollector217]

I think Tony is 59 or 60 years old now. Time is wasting away.

Tony was born in 1977, i remember he mentioned that, that would make him 48. But yes, i still worry about my future, but it makes me feel a little bit better knowing that the fact i've had plenty of jobs in my life, should show i am employable, even if they are not high end professional corporate jobs, yeah for a large portion of my life, i feel i have lacked motivation to succeed academically, never liked college, a huge reason or part of my lack of motivation is, due to having been unsatisfied in my social life and dating life, not having a fulfilling social/dating life makes it hard to have motivation to succeed in academics or work.

Sometimes it makes me angry and resentful that we live in a reality where its very hard to get into a stable career that provides a salary or paycheck that is enough to live on, without college education. After all, people say, college is not for everyone.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My frustration, was post secondary education plenty of experience, denial of promotion. so it more complicated than it looks on the surface. like in other areas it's how to use our skills set to benefit others, ask any musician. I was the first guy in my company to get a bonus two concurrent years for my contribution, nothing significant to me however what they got was much more significant. Now they are worried the advantage I gave then could go to a competitor. that's how life works.