Dyspraxic friendly jobs

[Daniel]

I'm going to be quitting my job in a couple of months as I'm going to be going away travelling. What's on my mind a little is what I shall do when I get back. Since I finished Uni I've done a few different jobs, but none of them what you'd call 'graduate jobs'. Not that this has bothered me particularly. The 'career' type jobs I've gone for have often not seemed so appealing when it was explained to me at an interview, and I continue to be unsure of the whole idea of a career anyway.

I would like to see if I could make inroads into some writing and/or photography work, but realise that I might just as well need to look for a new job for the short to medium term on my return. What I've been trying to find out for some time, and don't seem to have been getting much nearer discovering is what jobs are more likely to be dyspraxic friendly and suitable for me.

Does anyone have any experience or have received advice as to what's a generally dyspraxic job? I'm sure such work exists, but I suspect I might have to look in potentially less than typical places to find it.

I think, as with so many, I emerged with Uni without much in the way of sellable skills, and have thus found direction a problem in finding a job. Many, many people I know have or are taking up teaching, however I know that's not for me. Yet while some I've spoken to from DANDA say that a lot of dyspraxics can't work, I know that I can, and that I can excel if I just find the right sort of thing. Fortunately I'm not having to look now, but it would be good to mill over the options for when I get back.

[Danni]

That's a hard one, as it also depends on what you're good at doing. The career I'm looking at is being an IT technician in a school, as computers don't require social skills, there isn't much in the way of fiddly work (I can just about manage to disassemble and reassemble computers, and cables are very resiliant thankfully) and all the paper work can be typed. I also seem to be able to diagnose problems in computers quite quickly, and am able to pick up computer related skills pretty easily.

I never want to teach, as that's one of the things I'm not very good at (I might be able to solve problems, but I couldn't tell you how I solved them!).

[Daniel]

I've wondered about working in an IT related field, but I suspect I'd need to get more training in a particular area to stand a reasonble chance. I'm reasonable good at software troubleshooting, as I understand the logical way that PCs work, and similarly go wrong. I'm less confident with doing internal work on PCs as always feel a bit numb with removing and installing components.

More generally, I think there are broad weaknesses that dyspraxics encounter in certain types of work. Stressful, hurried work with lots of things going on at once certainly don't appeal to me a great deal. However focusing on single tasks in depth might do the trick. However not having been properly assessed or having sought advice in this area, I'm rather sketchy as to what should be looked for in a potential job, and would should be avoided. Obviously we're talking in broad terms, as people vary in their skills and abilities, but I'm sure there's a certain amount of common ground. The search continues!

[fuzzy]

Im sure you didnt leave uni with a lack of 'sellable skills'; in fact, from what youv told me about uni, i would say that thats hardly the case! (sorry couldnt find noramal smiley lol) You were a DJ at the university Radio and were heavily involved with the organziation for a long period of time (several years maybe?). Employers tend to look for anything that shows commitment, dedication, and an orginal side to someone- something that you have displayed through your radio work at uni, and also activities after university, such as creating social spaces for like minded indivuals online, such as photogrpahy which is a very creative thing to do, such as writing (contribution to dt, or giving information on travel on your own site, for example) on many websites/ blogs, some of which are your own which took time and commtiment to create. What many graduates (or undergraduates- anyone actaully) tend to do is not sell themselves well enough; your employers will not think you are big headed for listing your achievments; they will however, think you have nowt going for youself if you fail to propely inform them of how good you are at A, B, and C!!

I have found jobs that are creative to be best for me- whether this is a common 'dyspraxic' trait (i say that with inverted commas becauise i am unsure of my dyspraxia; i certainly have a neurological learning difficulty of some kind)- for example, tour guiding, where i get to be as dramatic as i like, or photogrpahy, where i get to express my ideas via art. I think much is the same for you, Dan; you seem very much like me in the sense that you would hate the idea of being a 'city slicker' so to say. I think that you would do well writing for travel books etc- maybe working from home and in your own time/ pace (ie free lance) is perhaps what would suit you (and possible me) the best. Hope this helps!

[Thirteen-thirty-seven]

Daniel, what did you study at University? That will determine, in part, what kind of jobs you can go for.

[Daniel]

I would like this to be a broader thread than it simply being 'find Dan a job'

However to answer your question, Esther, I studied International Relations at Uni. You could say that some career in politics or the civil service might be a suitable route (and these have often been considered).

However I think with many such disciplines (I've heard similar things from friends who studied English, History etc.) you don't emerge into the wide world with a particularly defined career path or job direction. This isn't necessarily a problem, as it gives you a broad scope, but the sort of jobs that are pushed towards you when you graduate are, by their very nature 'graduate' jobs.

In practice I feel that the vast majority of these are hugely dyspraxic unfriendly. Jobs such as in recruitment or media sales are to me on a par with cleaning out Chernobyl. They come over as pushy and very high pressured, whereas the huge companies who have graduate intakes or milkrounds have a great long process requiring no doubt lots of interviews and tests that those who can't think well on their feet are unlikely to be suited for. I'm trying to be realistic rather than sound excessively negative about these, but that's the impression I've always got of them.

[mattie]

I'm worried about work. I don't think I'd suit a 'top job' as it just isn't me. Fortunately, I'm not really into money/material things so I don't suppose that really matters that much.

Originally, I though Chartered Accountancy would suit me, but I'm not so sure sure anymore. I think it would be too stressful and pressurised for someone like me. I think I might just go for an ordinary job when I graduate.


Mattie.

[Ruth]

I don't deal with stress too well either. It makes me worse

I don't know what sort of jobs would be good for Dyspraxics. I suppose that because we have a range of ways that we are affected then we'll suit a range of jobs.

I'm good at talking to people now ( I was hopeless in my teens though) and I love being outside and doing gardening so thats what I'm aiming for.

My degree is very good at directing us in the direction of jobs, we have to have a year in industry.

[Tortoise]

It was sad to read that many dyspraxics can’t find work, that must be extremely frustrating to say the least! But a very relevant topic once again!

And I don’t think you could have said it better!!!->

I know that I can, and that I can excel if I just find the right sort of thing

. And I really could relate to this:

Stressful, hurried work with lots of things going on at once certainly don't appeal to me a great deal. However focusing on single tasks in depth might do the trick.

Well I haven’t had experience and haven’t received much advice as to what is a more suitable job for a person with this type of disability. However I was told by one specialist that people like me tend to work as academics because it is a much more flexible type of job - where it's more about performance than if you are in your office from 9am – 5pm mon-fri. That’s why I loved uni so much, I had a lot of flexibility in my schedule and could do a lighter load over a longer period of time without anybody whinging! I know many eccentric academics who thrive in that environment but would probably be out on the streets if they had to work in the cooperate world. But im really not sure if that’s what I want to be. I’m ready to look for work but am really anxious about it, not because I don’t think I’d be a good employee or don’t have good skills, but because im scared that it will be so hard to find the right sort of work to fit in with my disability. It’s hard enough finding work as it is!! But when you have something a little extra to accommodate for its even more difficult.

So I’m at this stage of my life as well where I have my degree and would really like to get a job. I’m lucky that I don’t have any learning disabilities so that makes things easier for me. However I really think that if I had a demanding job that required me being at work from 9-5 every day of the week, I probably wouldn’t last even the first week! I get really tired and im worried it will be too much. However I could still be just as productive if I can work in my own way… So, I guess having independence and flexibility in my job would be very necessary. In other words, give me a task and I WILL do it well… give me a task and tell me how to do and add to that heaps of time limitations and it would prob be a disaster! Oh, and I wouldn’t survive a second in the cooperate world.

…and I would want to work somewhere very close to where I live so day to day travelling won’t be to tiring and taxing. This probably sounds very fussy and particular but this is just how it is . I’m really scared I wont find work to fit with these requirements. And i prob wont be earning all that much as a result- but hey... Apart from that I feel quietly confident about my skills and my ability to perform. Its just that the environment has to suit me, otherwise I won’t be able to be happy and productive (and nor will my employers)! arggggggggggggg

[fuzzy]

Hey Tortiose; im thnking about academia when I leave uni too!! Was thinking a masters then a phd and having a fellowship or whatever its called at a (historical) university. Having said that; i do have another two years of my course to go after this one ends, so it may well be a little soon to be planning my nobel peace prize speach, lol!!!

[Tortoise]

That sounds great Fuzz! And it sounds like you are studying very intersting stuff too... so academia prob be interesting for you.

Everyone I've talked to whose done a PHd comments on how flexible it is. And that they have a lot of autonomy. So in that recpect it sounds good. Some people also get very nice grants and stuff which = $$$

I'm sort of at a point where i feel that it would be nice to have money actually coming IN. So if i do a masters right now, it equals 2yrs of money going out. But if i do phd and get grant it = money coming in (but only if im lucky). So its either that or get a job!!

[Danni]

If I want to go to uni I'm going to have to learn to drive (only uni in the area that does the course I want is Sunderland, and it takes 3 hours to get there by public transport).

I'm lucky in that the first two years can be done in Gateshead College (much closer, and a free bus!) but the third has to be done at Sunderland. I've still got a year and a bit to go if I do want to go to uni, but I'm scared.

Job wise, the reason I want to be an IT technician in a school is I might be able to get a job in one of the local schools (as I never was a pupil at any of them I won't have any problems there) and that'll mean easy access for travelling (as I have a daughter and a partner who doesn't want to leave the area I'm not allowed to move!). It would probably be less pressure than working in a company.

[parnassus]

Dan, do you speak a second language? If you can achieve fluency during your travels you should be a shoo-in for the Foreign Office with a degree in International Relations. I'm currently considering doing something similar, as I've read on the Foreign Office website that many of their jobs are very solitary.

[Daniel]

Hi Vicky,

Yes I've considered the Foreign Office for a good many years (my school's ancient careers computer first suggested it to me), but I didn't want to commit to a career until I felt I was ready for it, and have been a bit unsure about what seems to be a long and rigorous selection process.

However yes, it's a definite option, and I speak intermediate German, so I suspect that will be a help, and it's certainly up my street. I didn't realise it was solitary work either, which is another bonus

[mattie]

I really want to go travelling when I've finished my course at university. I want to spend a year down under, 6 months in Australia and 6 months in New Zealand.

Unfortuantely, I'll be nearly 27 when I get back. I'm worried that this might put employers off when I apply, becuase I'll have had no experience of full-time work. Do you think I'd find getting a full-time job more difficullt/ or even impossible because of this?


Mattie.