Professional Boundaries & Workplace Social Rules
Summary
Autistic adults 18+: 85% of jobs via connections. Network system with 3 contacts/quarter, email scripts, event ladder (coworkers → mentors), 30-sec pitch, LinkedIn 5min daily, coffee chat structure. Goal: 1 job lead from network in 6 months.
Key Points
- Skills: 30-sec pitch (memorized); cards/LinkedIn exchange; follow-up 24hrs (personal, ask, 3 dates); LinkedIn personalized; coffee (30min, dates).
- Tiers: 1 (coworkers daily); 2 (supervisors monthly); 3 (industry quarterly); 4 (mentors monthly); events: lunch 5-10 → conference 100+.
- Follow-up: "Great meeting [event]"; [topic]; pitch; coffee 3 dates; contact info. Send 24hrs (80% value).
- Maintenance: Monthly 3 contacts; quarterly 1 coffee; yearly holiday top 10; birthdays; tracker (name, company, last contact, next).
- Escalate for: Meltdowns/shutdowns at events (therapist); severe social anxiety (mental health eval); panic attacks (start 15min virtual/1-on-1).
85% of jobs come through connections, not applications. Autistic adults often skip networking, which leaves them trapped in low-paying roles. This guide creates a "network system": 3 contacts per quarter, email scripts, and a low-pressure event ladder. GOAL: Generate 1 job lead from your network within 6 months.
