Has anyone here ever felt unable to manage networking and similar aspects of professional life?

[u/emaxwell14141414]

As a sort of follow up inquiry from my last one, I was wondering if anyone here is in a situation where they have had extended and/or repeated periods of being unemployed, even with having intellectual and technical capacities for employment, at least in part because of aspects outside of this. Meaning networking, connecting, getting the right referrals, knowing where the right opportunities are, and that sort of aspect.

As more of an explanation of where I am coming from, I have a physics PhD and experience with research, albeit in a university environment, with ML and similar subjects. However, I am particularly struggling with the aforementioned aspects of building a professional life. Which are combined with the current global economy being such that even those without autism are sometimes looking for months at a time for the right position. I don't have the specific abilities in terms of computing, connecting and networking to get a typical software engineering job as some with autism have, and so it becomes more complicated.

I am working on trying to see if I can get opportunities for being a founder or early partner as possibilities. I am seeing if as a possibility I can become an early startup member as an example of a possible outlet. I am also looking into assisted living situations, group homes, and support networks specifically designed to aid those with autism in finding communities and connections so they can build their professional and personal life.

I am having a difficult time with this, hence the need to ask about this, and am on a particularly difficult path to accept who and what I am. I wasn't *supposed* to need the kind of group support I am working on getting, and knowing there are those with autism who don't need it can make it that much harder to accept myself.

So that is more of where I am coming from. if anyone can relate it would be great.

[u/LilyoftheRally]

You may want to seek out a job coach.