I am an Aspie. And this year, I would completing my 10th year of my career.
To be perfectly honest, I don't hate working. I love being useful. I enjoy the comfort of knowing that I will get paid at certain interval. And I am a hard worker as well. Most organisations in my country have a 5-star rating system and I have managed to scored 4 and above always at my jobs.
But I am really bad with people. I am always on a different frequency than them. Never quite able to maintain relationships with others.
This has wreaked havoc on my corporate life. See, in my country, to be successful at your job, you have to kiss-ass, network with your peers, maintain relationships, be visible…. Basically be Andy from The Office (when he was introduced). Hardwork and being good at what you is only marginally important.
This has been a source of endless frustration in my life. Always being overlooked, always being unrecognised, never getting promoted…. All while you work your ass off.
This system is not meritocratic. I mean give me targets to achieve, quality to maintain… I will do it. But I can't bond with my manager and kiss his ass up untill he promotes me. It's not that won't, i can't. My brain is not wired for that.
I have switched organisations, but it is the same everywhere. For now, I have given up on recognition. I hope to change my line of work to something technical like software soon. Hope I am able find a job that recognises people for their work, not words.