Job ideas for people who can't cope with people? Help please!

Tabbit

Hi, i'll try and keep this short, without being vague.

I was diagnosed with major depression at 13. It is treatment resistant. I cannot cope with people. Last decade has been a cycle of trying desperately to gain qualifications for a good career, studying a year, can't cope, quit, get job, few months, can't cope, quit, new job, can't cope, quit, worry about making nothing of myself, start another course, can't cope, only make it through the first year. I CANNOT GO ON LIKE THIS!

I need to find a job with minimal contact with people, I know all jobs require some contact with people, it's more the type of contact. Most of my previous experience work wise is in the customer service industry. I just need to move away from dealing with the public en mass, where you are subject to the denigrating treatment and pressure and pretence of happy bubblyness that drains my very life essence away.

I've had some ideas; Factory work? (don't think there is any in the south east?)
Recycling sorting? (I saw it on that old style benefit tv show and thought it looked like something I could handle).
Anything with animals, I wish out of all things, I had managed to stick it out with that course.
Post man - Though this work seems extremely hard to come by.

Would really appreciate some help with ideas, i'd rather have something with a decent wage or prospects, but right now i'm not picky. Obviously I have used up my free education, so something that requires years of study is not optional right now and probably never will be unless you can home study it. Within (or close to) 9 - 5, mon - fri would be best, my partner is the only thing in my life that keeps my head above water and if our work kept us apart I don't think I could go on. For the record, I am NOT work shy, I hate to be doing nothing, I am always cleaning or cooking or making something, I am a hard worker by nature.

Please help! Thanks!

Nicki

You don't give much clue as to what your skills or your academic qualifications are.

But for example you could be a cook/housekeeper for a family who are out of the house while you are working and so you have minimal contact with them. In London that kind of job pays £30-40k per year full time. If you are good at making things, you could make curtains at home on commission, or do alterations for clothes shops for example. If you can type and do basic book keeping you could maybe be a virtual PA? You say you like animals, so you could do pet sitting and dog walking.

getmore4less

there will always be the issue that you find it hard to find jobs that don't have contact with other people you work with

Packer/shipper in a distribution centre.
train driver
Night shift security
office cleaner(often everyone has gone home)

supermarket, although around people little interaction
late shelf stacker
home order picker

tiger_eyes

Any type of home business you could start? I run a business from home and only ever deal with clients via email. Although obviously not on the same order of magnitude as your condition, as a serious introvert I find it soothing working alone in the silence of my home.

Charityworker

My daughter is the same. Shes aspergers syndrome and finds it very difficult to interact with people. She has started a pet sitting business and it's still building at the moment but its going quite well.

Basil74

I would completely disregard the postman option, a full-timer spends approx. 40% of their shift in the delivery office, sorting and prepping the mail... a rather 'boisterous' and claustrophobic environment at the best of times, then most parts of the country are now on the new delivery method of working 2 to a van, so no more wandering the streets on your own, plus you still have to deal with members of the public on a daily basis.

All in, it sounds more like the job from hell given your requirements!

Tabbit

Qualification wise, there's animal management, painting and decorating, backstage theatre (actually completed this one thanks to a tutor sorting it for me to do the 2 years in 1 year) and the first year of Scenic Arts (building set and props) at Uni. Most actual work experience is in pubs and shops, a little IT helpdesk and admin too. I've also got my driving test coming up in two weeks, so driving jobs should be an option at some point

I really like the sound of the home order picker, I saw it on the tv the other day, forgot to write it down though.

It really needs to conform as closely to office hours as possible, so I get some time with my OH, otherwise it's all a bit futile, which unfortunately mostly rules out the late night stuff which would otherwise be ideal.

It's hard to communicate exactly what I mean when I say 'not dealing with people' ... I don't mean all human contact as such, but the big problems come when you're in a position where joe public feels they are able to speak to you however they wish and then on top of that you're not allowed to defend yourself, plus you have to force this outgoing personality all day. I've been in a post sorting office, not when it's busy, but looks like you should be able to get your head down and get on with it... Maybe not, but it'd be worth a look I think, you're mostly dealing with other people who are on the same authority level as you, so they don't feel entitled to treat you like poop. I'm actually not so bad with other people when i'm in a position of absolute equality or authority.

I would so LOVE to run my own business, I have looked online for ideas but I am at a total loss as to something that I could do that actually makes any money. Curtain making is a definite option, as soon as we can afford to move out of this one bed flat, I mean, I seriously don't even have half a curtain sized floor space and you can't sew heavy curtains on a tiny coffee table, trust me! I tried already!

Tabbit

Also, I have a friend who is a train driver... I might ask him for some insight! Can't believe that didn't occur to me! I really enjoyed dog grooming when I did it at college, I might try looking down that route too.

RedfordML

Tabbit wrote: »

Hi, i'll try and keep this short, without being vague.

I was diagnosed with major depression at 13. It is treatment resistant. I cannot cope with people. Last decade has been a cycle of trying desperately to gain qualifications for a good career, studying a year, can't cope, quit, get job, few months, can't cope, quit, new job, can't cope, quit, worry about making nothing of myself, start another course, can't cope, only make it through the first year. I CANNOT GO ON LIKE THIS!

I need to find a job with minimal contact with people, I know all jobs require some contact with people, it's more the type of contact. Most of my previous experience work wise is in the customer service industry. I just need to move away from dealing with the public en mass, where you are subject to the denigrating treatment and pressure and pretence of happy bubblyness that drains my very life essence away.

I've had some ideas; Factory work? (don't think there is any in the south east?)
Recycling sorting? (I saw it on that old style benefit tv show and thought it looked like something I could handle).
Anything with animals, I wish out of all things, I had managed to stick it out with that course.
Post man - Though this work seems extremely hard to come by.

Would really appreciate some help with ideas, i'd rather have something with a decent wage or prospects, but right now i'm not picky. Obviously I have used up my free education, so something that requires years of study is not optional right now and probably never will be unless you can home study it. Within (or close to) 9 - 5, mon - fri would be best, my partner is the only thing in my life that keeps my head above water and if our work kept us apart I don't think I could go on. For the record, I am NOT work shy, I hate to be doing nothing, I am always cleaning or cooking or making something, I am a hard worker by nature.

Please help! Thanks!

Twilight shift at a large supermarket would be ideal.

Decent pay for a job with miminmal responsibilies, also little customer interaction, however, working in a small team, helping the odd customer might actually help give you a boost and bring on your confidence.

Must be plenty of jobs going at any of he major brands?

gl

richardvc

With regard to being a train driver, whilst you spend your time on your own they do like you to be part of the 'team' ! You do get a fair amount of customer contact and that's when they are moaning, shouting or swearing at you !

theoretica

My work has housemen who receive deliveries, sort out the recycling and mail in and out and that sort of thing. I imagine most large buildings need similar people, and unlike our cleaners they work mostly office hours. Or how would you feel about janitor/handiman roles?