<p>I wanted to major in business but more specifically, in aviation business. However, my dad told me that my social skills aren't good and have low common sense. He says business isn't a good major for me since there's so much communicating and social interaction with other people, which I'm not good at. He says that it's better for me to major in more technical things, maybe like engineering or meterology, which I have little interest in. Is my dad right? Are there any autistic people who were successful in business?</p>
<p>Don’t major in anything you’re not interested in.</p>
<p>That being said, you should try to find a balance between a field/major you enjoy that you’re also good at.</p>
<p>Do you have a few schools you’re particularly interested in? I would speak with academic advisers there regarding a major. I think they’ll be able to share helpful experience with you.</p>
<p>Your dad is somewhat right and somewhat wrong.</p>
<p>For a lot of business jobs like management, salesman, and small business you really do need good people skills and common sense.</p>
<p>However, for positions like accounting, you just sit by yourself and crunch numbers all day. This doesn’t require great people skills or common sense, just a very calculating mind, maybe perhaps like yours. My mom is an accountant. She’s normal, but she sometimes says and does things that really lack common sense hahaha. But, her great skill is being able to sit down and concentrate. Accounting pays pretty good too so you may want to pursue this field of business. The only thing where your autism and lack of common sense may hurt you is in terms of getting a job. You obviously have to build connections and do interviews and if you have difficulty connecting with people it might be a little difficult to get a job. But, if your credentials are good, it shouldn’t be too difficult</p>
<p>“you just sit by yourself and crunch numbers all day.” That’s the stereotype, not the truth as most people here would tell you. </p>
<p>I wish it was true though.</p>
<p>First off, don’t listen to anyone who says you have “low social skills” or “low common sense”. While it may be true to a certain degree, and if autistic, both can be harder to learn than “normal” people, they can both be learned and improved.</p>
<p>I am either slightly autistic / asbergers and by forcing myself into activities, social outings, meeting new people, going to events, and chatting with strangers, I have dramatically improved my social and people skills and in my grade am one of the most well like people. The key is to be kind. Listening is important aswell. Try and develop a sense of humor. You can improve your social / common sense skills quite a bit! Trust me. It takes a lot of time, and you have to be brave and put yourselves in social situations where you might not be comfortable.</p>
<p>Do what you want to do, not what your dad wants you to do.</p>
<p>Like said before some business is very social, such as management and sales.</p>
<p>However, there is the more analytical side / less social, such as accounting / finance / marketing / company strategy etc…</p>
<p>actually, an autistic person might be better than a “regular” person in such things as investment finance or strategy as a matter of fact cus they think of things differently.</p>
<p>however, maybe your dad’s right. it depends on your degree of autism. but typically, autistic people will be better at those more techncal / engineering science stuff / things. however, my advice is do what your passionate about. business offers many paths to follow.</p>
<p>best of luck! God bless & Merry Christmas!!</p>
<p>i dunno, that’s what my mom says at least lol. And around tax season, I just see her sitting in front of a computer crunching away…</p>
<p>I’ve watched The Office a couple of times and that’s what accounting reminds me of. You’re not really making deals with businesses or the public but it helps if you know how to goof off and not be completely awkward, greet coworkers, and so forth. I feel awkward all the time but it’s okay, as long as you aren’t a complete fool.</p>
<p>I’m a junior and just got an accounting internship with the state. Other people record paper invoices into a digital system, I audit both to make sure they corroborate, I transfer money between budgets, help file stuff, help month end bank reconciliations. I’m not using much of what I learned about balance sheets or income statements or whatever but that’s expected when you go into certain niches.</p>
<p>“”“The only thing where your autism and lack of common sense may hurt you is in terms of getting a job. You obviously have to build connections and do interviews and if you have difficulty connecting with people it might be a little difficult to get a job. But, if your credentials are good, it shouldn’t be too difficult”“”</p>
<p>Yes, in addition to having good academics as a base for getting hired, some folks have to compensate with EXTREMELY great grades and work on their personality. Once you’re in though, let your work shine and you are gold.</p>