Realistically these are just some of the many negative social dynamics the OP may face working in an office setting. Where you might make friends, enemies or allies by chance or by choice. Working in a competitive environment where you likely don't want to turn your back on anyone.
Regardless of the people you work with, there is one constant that employees can't really ignore. That despite an employer's claim that everyone is working towards a common goal of prosperity, on a day-to-day basis you're really competing with other workers to either retain your status or advance it. That never changes.
Considerations that might be diminished in whole or in part with jobs where you routinely work independently of others. Ironic to recall that the one office job where I did not encounter any such problems or people was when I worked as an independent contractor. Where technically I wasn't an employee, and I worked in a separate capacity (website designer) that no other employees were directly involved in. I wasn't perceived as a threat to anyone. Though I think it helped that in looking back perhaps half the people I worked with in software development may have been on the spectrum as well, whether they knew it or not.
For what it's worth, the first time I ever ran into this was the same as you. In college, where I had to interact with a group to formally arrive at a consensus about policy development. And it wasn't until after the assignment came to an end that our professor informed us that the lesson wasn't so much about the policy we agreed to as being able to learn how to negotiate and cooperate towards a common goal. Particularly for those of us intent on holding government positions. I also remember how one person in our group, a much older student seemed very unhappy with me. It didn't sit well with me either.
Regardless of the people you work with, there is one constant that employees can't really ignore. That despite an employer's claim that everyone is working towards a common goal of prosperity, on a day-to-day basis you're really competing with other workers to either retain your status or advance it. That never changes.
Considerations that might be diminished in whole or in part with jobs where you routinely work independently of others. Ironic to recall that the one office job where I did not encounter any such problems or people was when I worked as an independent contractor. Where technically I wasn't an employee, and I worked in a separate capacity (website designer) that no other employees were directly involved in. I wasn't perceived as a threat to anyone. Though I think it helped that in looking back perhaps half the people I worked with in software development may have been on the spectrum as well, whether they knew it or not.
For what it's worth, the first time I ever ran into this was the same as you. In college, where I had to interact with a group to formally arrive at a consensus about policy development. And it wasn't until after the assignment came to an end that our professor informed us that the lesson wasn't so much about the policy we agreed to as being able to learn how to negotiate and cooperate towards a common goal. Particularly for those of us intent on holding government positions. I also remember how one person in our group, a much older student seemed very unhappy with me. It didn't sit well with me either.
Last edited: