Intensive Support • Early Career • Goal 2:
Look for a Job
Action step 1.
Identify potential jobs based on interests, personal strengths and challenges.
No matter your level of support needs, you can work at a job that fits your unique skills, goals and interests. Some workplace environments might be a better fit for your learning style, sensory needs and communication method. Other jobs may present challenges that are harder to work around.
Talk to people in your community about opportunities for work. If you receive adult services, talk to your benefits counselor or Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC) about services to help you find and keep a job.
You can also search online for job programs and open positions using websites like The Spectrum Careers, Indeed and LinkedIn. For industries like retail or food service, you can try visiting the location and applying in person.
Resources
- TheSpectrumCareers.com, a job search site
- From the Autism Speaks Employment Tool Kit - Your Job Search
- From the Autism Speaks Employment Tool Kit - What Job is Right for You?
- From Ticket to Work - Access job search, job training and career development services for Social Security recipients
- From Autism Speaks – 12 Steps to Help Adults with Autism Find the Right Job
Words to know
Action step 2.
Work with your job coach.
Finding a job that fits your needs and interests can be difficult, but a job coach can help. A job coach is a person who can help you find a job, work with you on learning the skills you need to succeed in that job and help you cope with any challenges in the workplace.
Your job coach will spend time with you to learn your strengths, support needs and interests. Then, they will work with employers to negotiate a supported employment or customized employment arrangement.
Most state VR agencies employ job coaches, have job coaching as part of their vocational rehabilitation counselors' roles or, more commonly, refer their clients to other non-profit organizations that provide job coaching.
Resources
Words to know
Action step 3.
Reach out to your network to learn about opportunities.
There are many ways to look for a job, but one of the most effective is reaching out to the people you know, or your personal “network”. First, decide what kind of job you want and what type of environment you need to succeed. Then, tell everyone you know—friends, relatives, neighbors, former coworkers, local store owners with whom you have a connection, etc.—that you are looking for a job.
For example, you can say, “I am good at ‘X’ (data entry, packing boxes, filing, scanning documents, etc.). Do you know anyone who owns a business or is hiring at a company where I could do ‘X’ in a ‘Y’ kind of environment (quiet, not direct customer contact, outdoors/indoors, etc.)? Could you please help me meet this person?”
It’s good to be as specific as you can about what kind of opportunity you are looking for. Remember that people usually want to help, and you never know until you ask!
Resources
Action step 4.
Prepare for job interviews.
After you apply for a job, you might be contacted for a phone, video or in-person interview. Sometimes, there are multiple rounds of interviews with different people in the company.
Job interviews can be stressful, but they are just a type of conversation that gives you and the employer a chance to find out if you are a good match. Remember — this is your opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the company as well.
Some autistic people find that working out answers to common interview questions and practicing through role-play helps them stay calm and feel more confident.
