Autistic people who desire to build a career have numerous work opportunities.

They might face challenges, but many of them have enjoyed great success in a wide range of careers.

People might wonder how autistic people can build successful careers.

Confidence in themselves and their abilities would help a lot.

Autistic people can also work at jobs that match their interests and abilities.

Similarly, a company's culture and work environment can impact how successful their career can be.

Finding the right mentors in their fields is one of the career success secrets for autistic people.

Effective management of their workplace relationship would also help them to build successful careers.

Read on to gain insights into the career success secrets for autistic professionals.

Possessing Self-Confidence 

Everyone needs self-confidence to succeed in whatever career they intend to build.

A number of successful autistic professionals have attributed their success to confidence in themselves and their abilities.

They never allowed their disability to deter them from exploring their interests and building a career from them.

One way they were able to build their self-confidence was through trainings that strengthened their skills.

These programs prepared them and supported them as they entered the workforce.

Teenagers who take up jobs while they were in school and during summer would have great self-confidence when they become professionals.

Self-confidence would help them to seek for opportunities they are qualified for rather than just any opportunity that comes their way.

This would help them to get the best jobs that offer great self-development and career development opportunities. 

Picking Jobs That Match Their Abilities and Interests 

Autistic people can perform well in different careers such as Science, Information Technology, Research, Medicine, and Animal Science.

However, they perform best in careers that maximise their personality and strengths.

This is also another career secret success for autistic professionals.

Each autistic person has different strengths and weaknesses, and it is important they choose a career which aligns with their interests and skills.

For instance, an autistic person that easily bonds with animals may build a career in veterinary or animal science.

A visually oriented person may also succeed in animation, design, architecture, art, and photography.

Autistic people exhibit soft skills such as attention to detail, lack of bias, and systemic analysis, which makes them great tech professionals.

Many autistic professionals have built successful careers in tech companies like Microsoft and Aspiritech.

Jobs that have routine and require little social interaction, such as engineering, programming, and software development, are also great fits for them.

Working in Inclusive Companies 

A company that is inclusive in its recruitment process and work culture would help autistic people thrive in their careers.

You can tell how inclusive a company is right from the interview stage.

For instance, rather than asking scenario-based questions during the interview, you can give them a project to complete or customise the interview to suit their needs.

Companies like Microsoft and Ernst & Young (EY) have hiring programs which make job opportunities more accessible to those with autism.

Autistic people do well in structured and undisturbing work environments.

How far the company is willing to provide support and accommodations to them will also determine their success as professionals.

Accommodations in terms of aids such as visual aids, headphones, quiet work environment would impact them positively.

Employers can also hire coaches and counsellors to train their staff on how they can provide support to autistic people.

They need ongoing support to adjust to workplace changes and their new responsibilities.

Colleagues that accept them would similarly provide the support they need to have fulfilling careers.

A great work environment is one of the career success secrets for autistic professionals.

With their dynamic skillset, they can contribute to the company's success.

Developing Communication Skills

Social and communication skills are important career success secrets for autistic professionals.

An autistic professional can develop these skills by participating in activities in the workplace.

Employers can help by assigning them to smaller groups, allowing them to have one-on-one meetings with their supervisors.

When they also socialise with some of their colleagues who have similar interests, they would be able to relate well with them at work.

Many autistic people usually prefer careers that have minimal human interaction. However, human interaction is inevitable in the workplace.

Social and communication skills are therefore important to the success of an autistic professional.

Programs such as school-work transition programs, and job skills trainings help them learn how to strengthen their interpersonal skills, stress management and how to handle difficult situations which are relevant in the workplace.

Supervisors can also provide encouragement by giving positive feedback and guidance on how to relate with their colleagues.

Getting Mentors 

Mentorship is one of the career success secrets for autistic professionals that might be overlooked.

Mentors assist young professionals in navigating their career paths easily.

Mentors can come in form of their parents, teachers, colleagues and healthcare professionals.

In your chosen field, you may also seek out successful professionals who would provide the needed advice on how to succeed in that field.

It is better to seek out those who are autistic because they would understand the challenges they may come from being an autistic person and provide better advice on how to surmount them.

Workplaces can also provide mentors to autistic people who would guide them on how to integrate well into the work environment.

The autistic person may seek out personal mentors at work who can guide them.

These mentors can provide prototypes on how to become successful and productive professionals.

Their success stories can motivate you and challenge you to become successful in your chosen career as well.

These mentors are proof that autistic people can live independent lives and become fully integrated into the society.

Conclusion

Autistic professionals who have successful careers can positively impact themselves, their families, the workplace, and society.

The career success secrets for autistic professionals include; great self-confidence, working in jobs that have an inclusive environment and fit their interests and abilities, having mentors and the ability to manage social and communication aspects of work.

Resources 

https://www.appliedbehavioranalysisprograms.com/lists/5-good-career-choices-for-people-with-autism-spectrum-disorder/

https://asatonline.org/research-treatment/clinical-corner/adults-employment-success/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferpalumbo/2022/06/29/how-autistic-individuals-can-offer-special-skills-to-your-business/

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/autism-learning-disabilities/autism-at-work.htm

https://lexingtonservices.com/career-paths-for-people-with-autism/#:~:text=People%20with%20autism%20perform%20best,a%20strong%20short%2Dterm%20memory

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272815617_Toward_the_Successful_Employment_of_Adults_with_Autism_A_First_Analysis_of_Special_Interests_and_Factors_Deemed_Important_for_Vocational_Performance

https://www.spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/now-hiring-what-autistic-people-need-to-succeed-in-the-workplace/