How the hell do I find employment as an autistic guy who relies on public transport?

I graduated from uni about two years ago, and since I have had a real struggle to find work and I am getting really panicky as I urgently need work in the next couple months at latest!! There is a reason I don't want to drive, its a fear that I have that because of the risks involved and how mine and others lives could literally be in the hands of difficult judgement decisions which I may find tricky because of my autism to the point I feel its not worth the risk. However because of that, I am very limited in what jobs I can apply for. Like I am subscribed to Indeed to send me places I can apply to everyday, if I could drive I'd be able to apply to 75% of which I get offered, but I can only apply for like one or two. Thats the first issue. The second issue is even for the most basic jobs such as retail that I apply for and even for some jobs tailored towards autistic people, I typically get either ignored or rejected, or fail the test. Whereas all my friends who've applied for retail jobs or other basic jobs seemingly get accepted straight away... what am I doing wrong as many have said my CV is fine... and all my friends easily get accepted

I also have another question. Retail is the sort of job I've been applying for. However for many reasons, I am wondering if its the path I should be going down. Part of the reason I have gone down that route is I have been particularly dependent on working life to get me friends from my area since I am struggling to find ways of doing so. The working environment I really want is this. Back in sixth form I did an art foundation degree and really got along with people on my course. Towards the end of the academic year we had a display to put up which took a month or so. And whilst we were putting up the display we were socialising and having fun and sometimes having films on the projector whilst still effective in putting up the display. That's an environment I look back on fondly and is the working environment I strive to get as I miss it a lot. A job that is predominantly people around my age group that is a practical task that is doable whilst socialising and other stuff such as watching films which I know is not uncommon, but I need to pinpoint what type of job fits that environment the best... any ideas?

Either way I need a solution urgently as if I don't find work in the next couple months I'm gonna lose my subscriptions to things like Photoshop which is going to mean I cannot work towards my end career goal (my current plan is part time work whilst spending the rest of the week working towards my dream career which is unrealistic to start on straight away) and also I have a plan in September for something I may not be able to afford if I don't find work which I REALLY do not want to cancel as it is something I may not have a chance to do again... I need income soon, how do i get it ive been trying for 2 years without success...

Reply 1

Universities Forum Helper, Clearing and Applications Advisor

What is your dream career?

Do you have copies of the bus and train timetables and maps for your area? If so work out which bus/train stops you can get to by 8am and home from 5-6pm. Then get on google maps and explore those areas. Identify large companies and then look them up online for their corporate website. There should be job listings as well as contact details. Get in touch (ideally ring them up and then follow up with an email thanking them) with their HR department to ask if they use agencies/recruitment companies for their jobs and if so which ones. They should be happy to explain how they advertise for staff.

Not all employers use agencies, those that do might use different agencies than you have looked at.

Personally I wouldn’t restrict yourself to retail alone - industrial estates house treasure troves of small and medium businesses with interesting jobs available. Those employers are much less likely to use expensive agencies or job listing sites for their jobs because they don’t have those budgets.

Reply 2

chloebird

I FEEL this!! Also autistic, also won't drive because I'm not a serial killer. SO MANY JOBS just require a licence as standard these days even if I could manage perfectly fine with ubers or even my self-employed partner driving me-they just want a licence!! I would say, I got my first job at a solicitors as a 'legal clerk' which basically meant admin. Filling out forms all day, it was bliss, so maybe ask small solicitors on accessible routes if they're hiring. Usually they could be but don't expand until a family or friend wants a job and then they take on new clients, so small law offices could be a juicy target!

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