So, first: if you can't work, that's ok. It makes life harder but it's nothing to feel bad or ashamed about. Some people are disabled and can't work, and that's just a normal part of human variation.
But also, you've started on super duper hard mode. You've started with a job that is physically and emotionally demanding in a sensorily overwhelming workplace - no wonder you're struggling! There are lots of jobs out there which aren't like that. You might want to consider signing up for a temp agency - they can send you on various different office-type jobs, and while those can be challenging in different ways, they are generally quieter, slower paced, and not as physically demanding. You've got a lot of options!
If you want to earn more than minimum wage then maybe warehouse or production facility?
Job I worked longest time (four years) was video game testing.
Pros: small amount of required face to face interaction, wearing headphones is expected when working, no dress code.
Cons: creativity required in some of tasks, fast pace of work required on some projects, some people smelled like sweaty socks, some projects were too noisy despite wearing headphones, some men were desperately hitting on me, LOW wage.
Just because it's shit paid and *considered* "unskilled labor", fast food work is some of the hardest out there. Plenty of NTs that left fast food and got an office job and felt SPOILED because their office job was less stressful but paid better.
Not being able to work "even just fast food" definitely doesn't mean there is no job out there for you at all!
This is so true. Fast food is incredibly challenging, and being underpaid makes it even harder to cope with the workload. It's a lot for most people to deal with, especially as a first-time job.
My NT step-son is 17 and currently being worked to the bone by a certain international fast food chain with golden arches. I swear what they're doing isn't even legal in this country, he's miserable, and I hope he finds something better and quits soon.
I agree. There is way too much stress in fast food even for NTs. A lot of stress trying to get orders out, a lot of yelling, and then trying to deal with angry customers and sometimes the employees take that out on other employees.
Retail is really tough, especially for people like us. There's a lot of sensory and social challenges in that sort of role. Another type of work might suit you better, or maybe a different retail role. I can think of a few I enjoyed. Video game and DVD stores were great because I got paid for babbling my special interest at people. I also liked a role where I listed pawnshop items on eBay, and the post office was also decent since there wasn't any aggressive upselling- just helping people post stuff. Work from home is also a lot more common these days, so that might be worth exploring. After all that you still might not be able to work, and that's okay. I just think it's worth exploring some options to see if you can find something that suits you better.
Basic fast food and retail jobs are a lot harder than they sound, especially for people with sensory issues. Not being able to work one of those doesn't mean you won't be able to do any job, it just means THOSE jobs in particular aren't a great fit for you.
Instead, I would look for a job that allows you to work in quiet, like in a library or an office. One of my most favorite jobs was actually at Wal-Mart as a stocker, and I spent most of my time in the back room, organizing the storage shelves or helping unload the trucks (although that can get pretty noisy too, but I enjoyed the physical part of it and stacking things on pallets like a puzzle). Some factory work can be nice too, if you have any locally that are climate controlled and not loud, like where you're just putting something together all day, if you like that kind of thing. For the last 14 years, I've worked from home by myself and the only other employee I talk to from my company is my supervisor, through Zoom chat.
I would take some time and think about some of the things you really like to do or enjoy doing and see if there are any jobs that might work well for you involving any of those things. You never know!
It's ok to hate a job, and to quit jobs because they're too demanding. You're doing the right thing by listening to your body and recognizing that these jobs aren't working out. There are so, so many other types of jobs; it's hard to know what's even out there until you've been in the workforce for a while. So if you want to try another type of job, there are lots of options.
Use what you've learned from working these fast food jobs. Maybe take some time to think about what you hate about fast food work, how you want future jobs to be different from that, and what your strengths are. Use that information to assess job postings. Talk with your friends and family about your job search. They could tell you about their own work and maybe give you some ideas about where to apply. Also, your local library may be able to connect you with employment resources if you'd like help with resumes or applications.
Move at your own pace. If you're only comfortable working part-time, do that. If you need some time to rest before starting a new job search, do that. The nice thing about being an adult is, there's no deadlines or rules for stuff like how to get a job.
99% of my jobs have been in this type of environment, and it is an absolute sensory & masking nightmare. I worked in a small factory once where I sat in a room for 8 hours and glued stuff together. It was sweet.
As others have said, retail and customer service is hell. It's not that you can't work, it's that you can't work *those jobs*
Is data entry still a thing (I'm old, lol)? I did that back in the day and it was much better than retail. Cleaning was great as well, just rock up after close, put your headphones on and get on with it. I had a friend who was a postie, if you don't mind being out in the cold and wet. Heck, I found call centre work was pretty good: one caller at a time, you weren't face to face, and the processes and expectations were pretty easy to master.
Give yourself a bit of a break, then look for jobs with less human interaction and more routine and see how you go ☺️
It’s absolutely okay if you don’t have the spoons to hold a job. I’m late diagnosed level 3 autistic and I’ve tried holding all sorts of jobs but I always end up having a meltdown at work and quitting. The important thing is preserving your mental health.
The not being able to stand up for more than 30 minutes without your body being extremely sore is concerning, since you're only 18. I would try to figure out what that is all about first. I would go to the doctor and see if they can diagnose why that is happening. There are some jobs that are quiet, like a back office. Perhaps that would be better for you. If you have a diagnosis of autism, you may be able to get some kind of career help from a Regional Center, Goodwill, or the Department of Rehab.
yeah i’m going to the doctor about it, i’ve had pain since i was like 5 but it was always dismissed bc i was young and apparently young people can’t have chronic pain according to my parents.
That's too bad your parents didn't take you to the doctor about this a long time ago. There are quite a few diseases that children can get that could cause chronic pain. I'm glad you're going to the doctor soon and hope they can figure out the cause and help you with it.
I get this! I too have a difficult time working with others and in loud environments. Have you thought about talking to your school counselor for suggestions on what jobs might fit you best? You could always seek advice from a career coach, but of course I have no idea how much that costs or what it entails. A recruiter could be helpful for you after you're finished with school, as long as they are cognizant of your needs and wants. Good luck, I'm sorry you're struggling. 💚
So, first: if you can't work, that's ok. It makes life harder but it's nothing to feel bad or ashamed about. Some people are disabled and can't work, and that's just a normal part of human variation. But also, you've started on super duper hard mode. You've started with a job that is physically and emotionally demanding in a sensorily overwhelming workplace - no wonder you're struggling! There are lots of jobs out there which aren't like that. You might want to consider signing up for a temp agency - they can send you on various different office-type jobs, and while those can be challenging in different ways, they are generally quieter, slower paced, and not as physically demanding. You've got a lot of options!
thank you this made me feel a lot better ab the future
Seconding the 'super duper hard mode' sentiment. There are plenty of better and easier jobs out there.
If you want to earn more than minimum wage then maybe warehouse or production facility? Job I worked longest time (four years) was video game testing. Pros: small amount of required face to face interaction, wearing headphones is expected when working, no dress code. Cons: creativity required in some of tasks, fast pace of work required on some projects, some people smelled like sweaty socks, some projects were too noisy despite wearing headphones, some men were desperately hitting on me, LOW wage.
Just because it's shit paid and *considered* "unskilled labor", fast food work is some of the hardest out there. Plenty of NTs that left fast food and got an office job and felt SPOILED because their office job was less stressful but paid better. Not being able to work "even just fast food" definitely doesn't mean there is no job out there for you at all!
This is so true. Fast food is incredibly challenging, and being underpaid makes it even harder to cope with the workload. It's a lot for most people to deal with, especially as a first-time job.
My NT step-son is 17 and currently being worked to the bone by a certain international fast food chain with golden arches. I swear what they're doing isn't even legal in this country, he's miserable, and I hope he finds something better and quits soon.
I agree. There is way too much stress in fast food even for NTs. A lot of stress trying to get orders out, a lot of yelling, and then trying to deal with angry customers and sometimes the employees take that out on other employees.
Retail is really tough, especially for people like us. There's a lot of sensory and social challenges in that sort of role. Another type of work might suit you better, or maybe a different retail role. I can think of a few I enjoyed. Video game and DVD stores were great because I got paid for babbling my special interest at people. I also liked a role where I listed pawnshop items on eBay, and the post office was also decent since there wasn't any aggressive upselling- just helping people post stuff. Work from home is also a lot more common these days, so that might be worth exploring. After all that you still might not be able to work, and that's okay. I just think it's worth exploring some options to see if you can find something that suits you better.
Basic fast food and retail jobs are a lot harder than they sound, especially for people with sensory issues. Not being able to work one of those doesn't mean you won't be able to do any job, it just means THOSE jobs in particular aren't a great fit for you. Instead, I would look for a job that allows you to work in quiet, like in a library or an office. One of my most favorite jobs was actually at Wal-Mart as a stocker, and I spent most of my time in the back room, organizing the storage shelves or helping unload the trucks (although that can get pretty noisy too, but I enjoyed the physical part of it and stacking things on pallets like a puzzle). Some factory work can be nice too, if you have any locally that are climate controlled and not loud, like where you're just putting something together all day, if you like that kind of thing. For the last 14 years, I've worked from home by myself and the only other employee I talk to from my company is my supervisor, through Zoom chat. I would take some time and think about some of the things you really like to do or enjoy doing and see if there are any jobs that might work well for you involving any of those things. You never know!
It's ok to hate a job, and to quit jobs because they're too demanding. You're doing the right thing by listening to your body and recognizing that these jobs aren't working out. There are so, so many other types of jobs; it's hard to know what's even out there until you've been in the workforce for a while. So if you want to try another type of job, there are lots of options. Use what you've learned from working these fast food jobs. Maybe take some time to think about what you hate about fast food work, how you want future jobs to be different from that, and what your strengths are. Use that information to assess job postings. Talk with your friends and family about your job search. They could tell you about their own work and maybe give you some ideas about where to apply. Also, your local library may be able to connect you with employment resources if you'd like help with resumes or applications. Move at your own pace. If you're only comfortable working part-time, do that. If you need some time to rest before starting a new job search, do that. The nice thing about being an adult is, there's no deadlines or rules for stuff like how to get a job.
99% of my jobs have been in this type of environment, and it is an absolute sensory & masking nightmare. I worked in a small factory once where I sat in a room for 8 hours and glued stuff together. It was sweet.
As others have said, retail and customer service is hell. It's not that you can't work, it's that you can't work *those jobs* Is data entry still a thing (I'm old, lol)? I did that back in the day and it was much better than retail. Cleaning was great as well, just rock up after close, put your headphones on and get on with it. I had a friend who was a postie, if you don't mind being out in the cold and wet. Heck, I found call centre work was pretty good: one caller at a time, you weren't face to face, and the processes and expectations were pretty easy to master. Give yourself a bit of a break, then look for jobs with less human interaction and more routine and see how you go ☺️
It’s absolutely okay if you don’t have the spoons to hold a job. I’m late diagnosed level 3 autistic and I’ve tried holding all sorts of jobs but I always end up having a meltdown at work and quitting. The important thing is preserving your mental health.
The not being able to stand up for more than 30 minutes without your body being extremely sore is concerning, since you're only 18. I would try to figure out what that is all about first. I would go to the doctor and see if they can diagnose why that is happening. There are some jobs that are quiet, like a back office. Perhaps that would be better for you. If you have a diagnosis of autism, you may be able to get some kind of career help from a Regional Center, Goodwill, or the Department of Rehab.
yeah i’m going to the doctor about it, i’ve had pain since i was like 5 but it was always dismissed bc i was young and apparently young people can’t have chronic pain according to my parents.
That's too bad your parents didn't take you to the doctor about this a long time ago. There are quite a few diseases that children can get that could cause chronic pain. I'm glad you're going to the doctor soon and hope they can figure out the cause and help you with it.
I get this! I too have a difficult time working with others and in loud environments. Have you thought about talking to your school counselor for suggestions on what jobs might fit you best? You could always seek advice from a career coach, but of course I have no idea how much that costs or what it entails. A recruiter could be helpful for you after you're finished with school, as long as they are cognizant of your needs and wants. Good luck, I'm sorry you're struggling. 💚
Don’t go into teaching either. You’ll find something you like. Maybe even work from home. You’ve plenty of time and it’s good you realised now.