Best Jobs For Autistic Women In 2024
While workplace culture is becoming increasingly more open to neurodivergent people, the job market still lacks opportunities for various types of neurodivergence.
People on the autism spectrum are the most commonly known group of neurodivergent individuals, but what isn’t discussed often enough is that particular autistic people have different needs.
Moreover, autism in women often presents itself in a different way than it does in men. This means that what might be considered the right job for an autistic man doesn’t need to be one for a woman on the spectrum.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss types of jobs for autistic women that utilize their unique abilities and allow them to thrive in their employment.
How Are Autistic Women Different From Autistic Men
Only recently have clinicians started properly investigating how different autism is in women.
For years, autistic women were often misdiagnosed, and their autistic traits were attributed to other conditions.
A better understanding of what autism in women entails also helps improve their workplace.
In general, what distinguishes autistic women from autistic men is their areas of interest, which are typically closer to societal norms.
For instance, it’s animals, art, and literature. They are also more likely to obsess over their hobby, determined to know and/or learn every detail.
In a professional setting, autistic women can be a great asset. They may have great ability to hyperfocus, and their strong attention to detail can be instrumental in detecting something any other person would miss.
Among their unique strength may be also exceptional data analysis.
They may have excellent visual skills with their interest in all things creative. Hence, creating visual content may be their superpower.
Nevertheless, you should always remember that autism is highly individualistic. This means that every autistic individual has their own separate story, and their particular traits might be contradictory if compared.
Still, it doesn’t mean any of them were misdiagnosed.
How To Choose A Job As An Autistic Woman
We already discussed some basics for choosing a job as a neurodivergent person. However, recommendations for autistic women will be more specific.
Below is what you should look for in your workplace if you’re a woman on the autism spectrum:
Safe and Predictable Routines: Many neurodivergent individuals, not just people with autism, prefer to have a predictable schedule. It brings them peace of mind and makes them feel secure.
Sensory-Friendly Environments: Look for positions where your workplace is quiet and peaceful. This kind of workspace will help you stay focused. Plus, you’ll avoid sensory overload.
Clear Communication: To avoid any misunderstandings, you want to make sure you know what the expectations are. Also, you want to feel comfortable enough to ask for clarification if something is vague.
Flexible Work Modes: It often happens that while a position is a good fit, the workspace is too challenging for people with autism to function within it. It’s great if you can have a flexible schedule or work in a hybrid or remote job model.
Supportive and Inclusive Culture: The right job will give you a sense of security and belonging. You want to be in a work environment where your autism isn’t considered a flaw but a trait.
Choosing a proper workplace when you’re neurodivergent isn’t a whim or a luxury. Depending on your specific type of neurodiversity, you have specific needs that you mustn’t ignore.
Only tending to these needs will give you a chance to thrive in your job.
Job Opportunities For Autistic Women
Below we’ll list some job ideas that will appeal to many autistic women. It’s because they align with their most common needs and unique strengths.
Data Entry Job
These positions typically require good attention to detail, which is something autistic women are great at. Additionally, data entry jobs occur in a quiet setting and are based on a predictable routine.
How To Find a Data Entry Job: Quite recently, data entry jobs become a permanent service offered by virtual assistants. However, big companies that maintain complex computer systems also often offer these positions. Moreover, for many people, their very predictable nature doesn’t sound thrilling, so these jobs aren’t a good fit for anyone.
Archivist
Just like with data entry, this is a kind of job that is well suited for people with autism because it typically takes place in quiet, calm surroundings.
How To Find an Archivist Job: Look for offers from businesses, educational institutions (colleges, universities), or even national organizations (museums).
Library Technician
Another type of job that many autistic individuals might find appealing. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about a library is silence. The quietness, plus the organized structure and repeatability of tasks, promote sustaining the sense of comfort.
How To Find a Library Technician Job: As the name suggests, these jobs are performed at libraries. There’s no specific degree required, but having some additional courses in your resume would surely help securing this postion.
Graphic Designer
Many autistic people are visual thinkers, and it often happens with autistic women. They can be great at organizing objects, and excel at remembering routes. Often to the extent that stun non-visual thinkers.
However, it’s not just about their visual abilities. Very often, women on the autism spectrum possess an artistic flair. And when their creative superpowers join forces with their impressive visual memory, magic can happen.
How To Find a Graphic Designer Job: To succeed as a graphic designer, you might need to either apply at an organization that’s recruiting or you can create your own business. Although there are many graphic designers out there, the demand for their services is equally high, and with a unique style and specific skills, you might enjoy quite a successful career.
Software Coder
Computer programming is a job that requires specific set of skills and traits. And because many autistic women are detail-oriented, recognize patterns, and are good at logical thinking, this makes them well-suited for job in IT.
While potential employers will benefit from these qualities, there’s another good reason why autistic women might prefer to start a career in software engineering.
That’s because many opportunities in the industry allow for remote work. And even if you work onsite, these are typically low-communication roles.
How To Find a Software Coder Job: In general, while many IT jobs enable employees to work remotely, when you’re starting at any entry-level job, you typically need to work onsite. Also, more often beginners work for companies rather than freelance. However, if IT is something you’re passionate about, the odds are you’ll get promoted quite quickly. Consequently, many opportunities might start arising soon after.
Animal Care Worker
It’s common for autistic women to find special affinity with animals. They often bring them comfort from a young age. Moreover, it’s common knowledge that being close to animals promotes children’s development, and not just those on the autism spectrum.
Especially nowadays, there are more and more jobs you can do around pets. Dogwalking or petsitting are just the most straightforward examples.
Another option is assisting with veterinary care. Typically, it rarely happens that animals feel comfortable at vet’s and as they pick their carer’s emotions easily, stress and fear included, it often only make them stress more.
It’s when someone who has this special understanding for pets can make these situations a lot easier.
How To Find an Animal Care Worker Job: While petsitting has become a freelance job, assisting vets is rather a job for a specific vet clinic. Very often it requires additional skills, so you might need to attend some courses that will prepare you for more complex tasks.
How To Navigate The Job Market As An Autistic Woman
Having unique skills is one thing, but highlighting them effectively to land a role is another story.
When preparing a resume, be specific not only about your particular strengths, but also list an example of how you used them in your previous employment.
If you’re only starting out, you can even use a not work-specific example, but still one that your potential employer would find useful.
And if you could be precise about how it contributed to your previous employer’s benefit, it’s even better.
Finding Employers and Workplaces That Embrace Neurodiversity
It’s obvious that you should look for a position that aligns with your interests and talents. However, choosing a company where workplace culture helps you feel safe and thrive is equally essential.
I wouldn’t recommend ignoring the lack of acknowledgment for neurodiverse people just because the role itself seems exciting.
Below, we highlight some companies that have programs aimed at neurodivergent people and operate within the US.
Microsoft
Microsoft’s Neurodiversity Hiring Program includes both full-time and internship positions. If applicants’ skills sound interesting to recruiters, they are invited to a hiring event after an online assessment.
It’s there where they can feel what the culture at Microsoft is like.
SAP
Their Autism At Work program recruits and supports autistic employees. The main two fields they offer work in are data analysis and software development.
Ernst & Young (EY)
With its Neurodiversity Centers of Excellence (NCoE) program, EY offers opportunities in the fields of technology and financial analysis.
JPMorgan Chase
They hire mainly in the fields of technology and operations. They also provide training for managers and their teams on how to support neurodiverse talents.
Use Resources and Support Networks For Autistic Women
Neurodivergent people are becoming more and more included in different spheres of life. Yet, they still live with some kind of stigma.
It’s instrumental to acknowledge who you are for yourself and not to find your autism your flaw.
Yet, standing up for yourself is easier when you’re not alone. Finding the right job is essential, but thriving in it with like-minded people is easier.
Here are some resources and support network you might find helpful.
Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)
This network is dedicated not just to autistic women and girls, but also “transfeminine and transmasculine nonbinary people, trans people of all genders, Two Spirit people, and all people of marginalized genders or of no gender.”
On their website, you’ll find guides for newly diagnosed adults and parents of children, among many others.
They also organize webinars as part of their effort for inclusion.
Spectrum Women
As they say on their website, their aim is “to create a supportive community for women, girls and identifying females who are uniquely different”.
They write about books, publish articles and stories, and interview women of different experiences with neurodiversity.
They also offer consulting and mentoring services.
Wrapping Up
Working as an autistic woman can be challenging, but it doesn’t mean you can’t find a supportive environment where you’ll feel fulfilled and respected.
Most likely, it won’t be easy, but don’t get discouraged. Fortunately, opportunities for neurodivergent people – autistic women included – will only keep arising.
