How I chose my job

Following my autism diagnosis aged 27, a lot of things suddenly made sense. I made some big life changes as a result, including a change of job. Below I’ve shared the process I went through to make that decision, and the positive impact it has had.

Prior to my autism diagnosis, I was very focused on my career. I was working in Tech, leading a small department, and on a “progress into managing more people” sort of track. I was succeeding. By my own internal measure of what I “should” be doing with my life, anyway…

I was also exhausted. In a constant cycle of burnout. Having periods of time off work when it all got too much (often). Dreading most if not all of the interactions I had with colleagues. Turning up to the office and having to go straight back home because I was in tears with absolutely no clue why.

It wasn’t straightforward, though… I ended up signed off work for three months around the time of my diagnosis. I physically could not carry on with work anymore. I was crying all the time, and struggling to process everything I was going through. It certainly didn’t help that I was living alone during a COVID lockdown at the time.

There was a long period of recalibration. I eventually went back to my job, with fewer duties and some adj