It is important to remember that there is no pressure to choose one career and stick with it for the whole of your working life. It is possible to have several careers.
To find jobs and careers that are the most suitable, consider personal strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. For example, if you are good with numbers then accountancy could be an option, if you struggle with social communication, then it could make customer service roles more difficult. Also think about lifestyle. Could you cope with an irregular sleep pattern and work in a job that required shifts?
Autistic people often develop great skills and knowledge from their interests – which can then turn into successful careers. Career exploration can be difficult when unsure what interests you have in the world of work. Think about your interests and hobbies (sports, the arts, science, travel, animals, history). Then try to explore opportunities in these, anything that helps broaden your horizons can give ideas on careers best suited to you.
Work experience is one way of building confidence in the workplace for autistic people, this is especially important in helping you adapt to and understand the ‘rules’ of different working environments.
