Newsletter Archive

SEPTEMBER 2008

Job Environment Can Be Critical to Employment Success
  
A large part of job success depends on choosing a career that is a good match for your particular talents, interests and skills. For people with Asperger's Syndrome and NLD the work environment can be a critical factor in performance. It's not uncommon for people to excel at one company and not another, even though they are doing the same job at each!
 
Sometimes people discover that a particular career or industry simply isn't suited to their abilities. Donna, for example, realized that jobs in early childhood education required levels of interpersonal communication and multi-tasking that she simply cannot manage. Michael discovered that he can't work fast enough to meet deadlines in high pressured start-up companies, but that his skills are transferable to more relaxed corporate settings.
 
It is important to be flexible and creative when matching your interests and aptitudes to jobs. One man with a passion for film realized that acting and production jobs were not realistic, but that writing about film matched both his talents and work style. Ann did not have the mathematical ability required for veterinary school and instead found satisfying work as a dog groomer and trainer. One of my coaching clients struggled for years to find creative fulfillment in a very commercial industry that values mass-market appeal over cutting-edge innovation. Now he is building his own business, on a part-time basis, in a field that makes use of his creativity.
 
Practical matters also play a role in job success. Do you have a very long commute to and from work that leaves you tense and exhausted? Do you need to learn techniques for managing stress in order to improve your concentration? Are you eating well? One of my clients was working straight through lunch every day. He developed headaches and dizziness at around 3:00pm which affected the accuracy of his work. Eating lunch and a mid-afternoon snack solved the problem.
 
Finally, if things do not work out treat it as a learning experience. If you're let go, ask your employer for specific feedback on areas that you need to improve for the future. If you are unhappy with your current job, see if there are openings in other departments of your company that would be a better fit. Research other industries or professions where you can transfer your skills. For some individuals, self-employment is the best option and more than one person with Asperger's Syndrome has turned a special interest into a profitable business.

© 2008 by Barbara Bissonnette, Forward Motion Coaching