Full-time employment is not something that is usually discussed in autism circles. When I was initially part-time, I had no idea how it looked at. All I knew was that I needed a full-time job to make a living, and it allowed others to pay for larger quality of life investments like homes or getting a loan for a used car. During the COVID pandemic, I started full-time as an autism transition coordinator because of a collaboration between a neurodiversity focused firm and a driving school. I was full time for about two years before I was laid off, and looking back on those years, they were full of bright and bumpy moments. I learned valuable lessons on managing change, time, and relationships in the workplace, which I am going to share for autistic individuals to consider for their future full-time jobs.
Communication Standards
It is important to establish communication standards with you and others in the workplace. Discuss with your employer their expectations about communication. If you are unsatisfied with the communication styles at your company, come up with ideas that may work for you and check in with your employer to see if they are willing to try your ideas.
Customizing Your Workspace
If your employment is in an office setting, ask if you are allowed to customize the space. Since you are there for most of the day, it does not hurt to make the space more familiar to you. In the space I used to have, I had various items that related to my special interests. I had two video game posters that showed my fondness for the NieR series. I had a big plush from the same series on its own chair, mostly for sensory reasons. These items never distracted me, and I was able to do the work I needed to do. Make sure the items you can bring are realistic and not something that could add problems for the workplace.
Establishing Boundaries
It is important to set up boundaries with work. One example is how to approach work emails. I used to be okay with weekend emails, but during overtime and near the end of my time there, weekend emails became a trigger. Another important boundary is to not visit your workplace during your time off, even if you have access. I was guilty of visiting my office too much, and it eventually created a long-term issue. Creating work-life boundaries can help prevent burnout.
Watch Yourself with Budgeting
When you have more income from your employment, it might be tempting to overspend. I had some trouble with this when I was employed, and I realized I was spending too much and needed to cut down in areas like eating out and video games. It took a lot of trial and error to make a budget, but you can see what works for you or not. You cannot plan for everything, but you can create standards for yourself.
Knowing When to Let Go When Workplace Gets Out of Control
When you start feeling burnt out in your job, it may be time to consider moving on. Burn out feels differently for everyone, and for me, my workplace felt mentally draining, making me nervous and sad. In the end, I knew I had to either leave the company or continue the work in some form. If this is something you are experiencing, I urge you to move on! Quit and find the true career path you are looking for.
All in all, full-time employment can have complications, and at times, it can make or break a person. What is important to know is that any experience, good and bad, has meaning. Even if you have a bad experience, you have the means to search for something better. It will take time, but it is out there. Take in the lessons, know what works for you and that is where you will shine the most.
Andrew Arboe is a self-advocate currently employed at FOCUS Center for Autism. He also runs a freelance website called Andrew Arboe: Autistic Self-Advocate and Speaker where he provides public speaking services to organizations. For more information about Andrew, please visit andrewarboe.weebly.com. To contact him, email arboea@gmail.com.
