Harnessing your interests

Key points

• Some people turn their deep interests into a career path. 

• Depending on their interests, transforming a passion into a career can be easier for some people than others.

• If you need help, there are a number of things you can do: talk to a trusted friend or family member, talk to your workplace supervisor or seek professional help, including contacting a confidential support helpline. 

Turning interests into a career

Some people turn their interests into a career. This way, they can make money from following their passions! 

Here are some examples of autistic people who have turned their strengths and interests into successful job and career opportunities.

• Isaac Doman is a young South Australian filmmaker whose eye for detail contributes to his artistry. 

• Rosie King, a young writer, and public speaker has an amazing imagination thanks to her autism. Hear her story in this TED Talk.

• Hamish Finlayson is a young entrepreneur who is combining his skills in coding and app development with his passion to make the world a better place.

Depending on their interests, transforming a passion into a career can be easier for some people than others. For instance, a person with in-depth knowledge of sea creatures may be attracted to further study and job opportunities in the marine biology field. Alternatively, someone with a deep love of Harry Potter books might need to think more broadly with their career path – perhaps as a librarian, a bookseller, or a creative writer. There are plenty of university lecturers who specialise in fantasy literature – so don’t ever count yourself out! Some people even ‘invent’ their own job positions that didn’t previously exist and work for themselves providing a service to others!

Remember that not everyone necessarily wants (or is able) to adapt their deep interest into a job, and that’s perfectly acceptable too. Some people prefer to keep their deep interest as a hobby that brings them a personal source of joy, without the pressure of having to earn money from it.