• About
  • My faith story
  • Whole30

annkilter

~ What ships are for…

annkilter

Tag Archives: discouragement

Job Charming

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by Ann Kilter in Asperger's syndrome, Autism, Disability, high functioning autism, Independence, Support, Transition issues

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

asperger's, autism, discouragement, independence, job hunting

Most of us have made lists regarding our ideal mate, our Prince Charming or Princess Charming. I think girls are more prone to this than boys. Perhaps not.

Tall, dark, handsome, rich, cute, athletic, attractive, beautiful, has a good job, funny, blond, cute, nice, smart, sensitive, cute, etc.

As we get older and more mature, our criteria for our mate changes – worldview, philosophy, good manners, kindness, strength of character, enter the picture. Sometimes we drop some “requirements” in view of reality. We have deficits ourselves which affect our choices. Sometimes our experiences with the cute boys, reveal to us what we don’t want – a very useful bit of information.

Today, Mary went for another job interview. It was a 20 hour a week job for a non-profit.

After she graduated from college with a bachelor of arts in accounting, she had a list of requirements for her ideal job: accountant, full time, $30,000 salary to start, etc.

After a year of job hunting with no results, she began to lower her expectations, her hopes. She decided she would accept full time bookkeeper, perhaps at $10-15 an hour. Then it was part-time accounting assistant for $10 an hour, or even minimum wage.

At two years with no job, after many job interviews, she was willing to work for nothing, just to get some experience and keep her skills sharp. She found a volunteer position with a local homeless shelter where she performed charitable receivables for two afternoons a week. They told her that if she did this for a year, they would give her paid work. This fall, they gave her paid temporary work full time for three months. After the holiday giving season was over, they offered to pay for the work that she had been doing for nothing in the prior year. She was happy to get that employment.

Autism is the deficit that she cannot overcome, yet. Mary’s resume looks good, but the woman that presents for interviews doesn’t square with that resume. Probably, the interviewers cannot identify what is off. But so far, Mary has not received work through interviews and normal job hunting.

Her requirements for the job have changed to anything related to accounting, part-time, low wage. Something also on the bus line and/or on the way to my or Ralph’s work, with hours that fit with ours.

She has given up job charming for job possible.

So she went to the interview today at a non-profit corporation. Her experience with the homeless shelter has given her confidence and competence. I drove her to the interview because she cannot drive. Afterward, I asked her how the interview went. She said that the interview went well. Ralph, who drives her to most of her interviews, said that is what she always says.

_______________

According to an article in Huffington Post, there is tsunami of young adults with autism entering the workforce. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/27/autism-employment-white-collar-jobs_n_1916611.html

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 526 other subscribers

Top Posts & Pages

  • About
  • Not Like Mom
  • Ten Things I Wish Were True
  • Throwing Off the Label
  • Mary's Wishes
  • New Year's Goals, Wishes, Changes, etc.
  • Uncertainty
  • Anxiety Overload
  • Battling Isolation
  • Emotional Meltdowns

Finally, I’m on Twitter

My Tweets

Recent Posts

  • The Monster Wakes UP
  • So Many Advertisements, So Little Time
  • Blocking Bullies
  • Incomplete Without You – a lecture by Erik W. Carter
  • Collateral Damage
  • He’s Left The Harbor
  • Character and Determination
  • Don’t Get Me Started – A Rant About Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling
  • Exceptionally Forward
  • If Not For Autism….

Parts of my life not related to autism: annkilter2

Egg Drop Soup for Breakfast

Confession – Cheating on the Whole 30

Chocolate chili lunch

Day one completed, Day two here we come

Lidia’s mustard italian dressing.

Blogroll

  • California
  • Fever, flu linked with autism in pregnancy
  • Get Support
  • Joy In the Valley
  • Just a Thought Devotionals
  • Snagglebox – Autism Parenting Support
  • Social Stories
  • When the Enemy asks Questions about Disability
  • Wonderfully Wired – Created to be Remarkable

Recent Comments

Jerry on So Many Advertisements, So Lit…
Lilka Finley Raphael on So Many Advertisements, So Lit…
rachelcarrera on Blocking Bullies
Ann Kilter on Blocking Bullies
Ann Kilter on Blocking Bullies

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • annkilter
    • Join 489 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • annkilter
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar