Career Development

I am interested in finding out from members what they think about organisations, that cater for those with Aspergers, by providing a supportive work environment.

I work for Specialisterne in Scotland.

Established in 2004, Specialisterne is a successful Danish software testing company and social firm, 75% of whose staff are diagnosed with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Its software testing services operate on a fully commercial basis with a client list that includes some of the leading IT and telecommunications companies in the world. Specialisterne staff receive market-rate wages, with some public funding used to offset the cost of their additional training and support needs.

Hi,

I was interested reading about Goldman sachs and how they were happy to employ people with ASD. I also read somewhere that soon after all of the staff with ASD lost their jobs!

Can anyone help with an answer?

Ellie

I had a disappointment yesterday when I was turned down for a job via a recruitment agency.

It would have been an ideal position with a major film organisation for a short period in a new and emerging area.

What was frustrating was that the agency did not tell me about the role until very late and only then when I had rung them by chance. I was told that someone had been offered the job but was likely to decline. They then accepted.

I find dealing with recruitment companies a very unprofitable exercise. I am told that the key is to build a relationship with a few recruitment consultants that are amenable to you and likely to put you in the frame. My AS has always made this very difficult to achieve.

Has anyone thoughts or suggestions?

Each week in the Financial Times (the main business paper in the UK - the equivalent of The Wall Street Journal) there is a column by Luke Johnson.

He is an entrepreneur whose views I really enjoy and respect. I also resonate, and agree with, his values, outlook on life and approach to business.

A couple of weeks ago he wrote an article about the dangers of not moving on career-wise when you are in a posiiton or company that has outlived its purpose for you personally:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e4f5f1be-0aac-11df-b35f-00144feabdc0.html?ncli...

Its well worth a read; particularly in relation to Asperger syndrome. The reason I say this is that I am now in a similar position. I don't really enjoy what I am doing or the company that I work for so have decided to get out.

I feel all the better for it and, importantly, by not outstaying my welcome I feel that I can leave on my own terms.

I would be interested in hearing anyone else's views on this.

I had my appraisal this week which went quite well; very well in fact!

Afterwards however, I questioned myself somewhat. I enjoy what I do and the job came up just in time last year as my previous company got into financial trouble and my job was going to have to be made redundant. It was also at the time when the global economic/financial crisis started to kick-off and so I needed to get something more sceure as a matter or urgency.

I have enjoyed what I am doing and it has also enabled me to develop a second string to my bow. From a career perspective I needed this and so the move has been a good one. The work is a type that means I can freelance/work part-time going forward and I will be able to mix it with other work such as consultancy.

Against that I feel I am underselling myself somewhat, something which I have done to a degree throughout my career as a result of having Asperger syndrome.

Hi all

I am a Cranfield MBA, currently working as CFO of an Australian "not for profit".

I wondered if anybody has thought of formalizing a contact network for Aspies in management. I reckon that anybody who has fought their way into senior management despite aspergers would be a bloody good mate to have.

Any thoughts anybody?
Cheers
Errol

I don't know if this has been posted before and I'm not too sure if I'm putting this in the right area of the forums but here it goes. I'm sure many of us have been on a number of interviews for jobs. The question is has anyone been on the other side before, giving the interview or participating in a search committee to hire someone?

What age does age discrimination start ?

I have heard it can start at the age of 35 but it generally starts at the age of 40.

A person should have careers related experience at the age of 40.

I believe it will be harder for a person with AS to achieve a promotion, management roles or project management roles. Those roles require , people skills which people with AS are less likely to have.

See,

http://www.aspergerfoundation.org.uk/infosheets/a_careers.pdf

I know unfortunately of a few people who have already been hit by the econimic downturn and I suspect that it is going to get worse before it gets better.

I am lucky at the moment insofar as I have a new job. However, I am also determined to try and develop myself more going forward.

As a previous posting mentioned I am making an effort to network more. I am trying to set myself a target of meeting a contact informally once every two weeks. Just for a chat, not to ask for anything.

I am trying to think of other things I can do also to built some specific, technical skills.

One of the obvious things that goes through my mind it IT; or, more pertinently, web or internet based stiff which is becoming increasingly important.

I was wondering if anyone was doing anything in this or other areas to try and develop their career/personal skill set?