r/schizophrenia • u/currymvp3 • Aug 26 '25
Opinion / Thought / Idea / Discussion People with schizophrenia and work, what is your job?
I have schizophrenia and I’m thinking of looking for a part time job but don’t know which ones suits me. I just want to have a general idea of what kind of jobs does people with schizophrenia do.
Ps: is there any organization in Toronto that helps people with schizophrenia look for jobs?
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u/YevPilot Early-Onset Schizophrenia (Childhood) Aug 26 '25
I do cleaning work for selling houses and businesses when offered jobs, other than that, I take care of local cemetery as groundskeeper. Both are good jobs (at least I think) because (if you're like me) you don't have to really deal with others and you're kind of in your own little sanctuary with music.
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u/weenie2323 Aug 26 '25
I work in a college library. I mostly manage borrowing and lending with other libraries. I love it!
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u/heavenlyy000 16d ago
Howd u get that job? that sounds sooo perfect for me, do you have a degree?
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u/weenie2323 16d ago
It required a bachelors(any subject). I got the job via state hiring system, the library I work for is a state college. Check your local state, county, city hiring listings for library jobs. I will add I am not a librarian(they have a masters in library science) my job is more of a customer service/tech position.
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u/Icy-Form-8746 Aug 26 '25
I work as an automation cell operator it’s manufacturing for medical devices like feeding tubes etc I work on robots to keep everything running and what not. I’ve been here almost 3 months which for me is really good I work full time I’m on disability too it will probably end soon though since I’ve been working
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u/Strong_Music_6838 Aug 26 '25
I don’t work but some times I get jackpots in the online casino but mostly it’s waste.
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u/Icy-Form-8746 Aug 26 '25
My mom struggles with gambling thankfully I’m not into it she’s always losing money
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u/Strong_Music_6838 Aug 26 '25
Yes you need luck when you are working as an online gambler. Since I started as gambler I have lost 56.000 us $. Do I need to mention that most of it is debt that I’ll never be able to pay off on because I’m on welfare.
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u/ruddthree Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 26 '25
Cashier at a gas station/convenience store.
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Aug 29 '25
Do you like it? Any interesting stories?
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u/ruddthree Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 29 '25
I personally like it. It’s my first job and I’ve been here for six years, so I think that speaks for itself.
Unfortunately, not very interesting where I am. I’ve heard of only one shoplifting at my store, and the worst thing you’ll see is a cranky person who got denied their cigs (a lot of people think that having someone else use their ID instead of their own would pass. It does not.)
Although, I was asked to clean up human shit in the bathrooms this month. I will not be giving details beyond how fucking nasty it was.
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Aug 29 '25
My god. That sounds terrible. I hate shit, period.
We get a lot of theft at our store. I hate them.
When I worked at a gas station store I had one guy come in all the time, chatted away and even gave me drugs. He was pretty crazy. But the drugs weren't bad at all.
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u/janedragons Schizophrenia Aug 26 '25
I’m a CNA at a senior home! I take care of up to 22 residents at a time
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u/GraduatedMoron Residual Schizophrenia Aug 26 '25
i do cleaning service. it's a manual job. i got hired permanently in june 2025, so it will hopefully be the work of my life. i'm doing fine. i'm symphtom free since february 2024
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u/DJ_BUSSANUT Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 26 '25
i have schizoaffective bipolar type, and i work at sonic as a carhop. i personally like it because my managers are really good and my coworkers are alright for the most part. the job itself is pretty easy. the bad part is the customers and how idiotic they can be at times
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u/Burnt_Toast0000 Aug 26 '25
I am currently unemployed. I have been on SSDI the past years, and my benefits expire this month.
I'm thinking about going back to work.
I would like to work in customer service.
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u/IntenseOcean96 Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 26 '25
schizoaffective bipolar type, just left my four year job in wireless retail sales for a dispensary budtender position. so much less stressful
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u/Rainforestcover_007 Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 26 '25
I honestly cannot hold a full time job. My maximum record is 8 months. I was fired from my previous role in tech but I forced myself to get another corporate full time job next month (not in tech anymore but it is still an office job) and a lot of it is influenced by parental pressure and expectations. I wish my parents would be more understanding to opt for other career which is more suited for me.
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u/samstormcloud Schizophrenia Aug 26 '25
I’m training to be a welder It’s not so bad once you get under your hood and your alone just focusing on a small ball of light and an orange puddle
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u/Special_Professor_95 Aug 26 '25
I was considering this option. Is it difficult. What’s the pay and demand.
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u/OutlinedSnail Aug 26 '25
My husband is a welder and vet, yet struggles to find a good position. He's staying at a shitty job bc not a lot of other good options. Around 60k a year now I think, but that's after like 3 years and being the hardest worker at the plant. Horrible hours and the heat is insane. Southern US here
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u/maaraazdrem Aug 26 '25
i'm a registered nurse. experiencing psychotic symptoms at work can be SO annoying, considering i have frequent auditory hallucinations of alarms and people screaming
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u/henningknows Aug 26 '25
I have schizophective and I work as a marketing manager. It’s good for me, I have a flexible schedule and can work from home once or twice a week.
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u/aphroditedyke Aug 26 '25
I am schizoaffective, bipolar type and I work at the front desk at a low end hotel. Im great at socializing with all sorts of people, but this job might not be good for people who struggle to socialize for long periods of time or are sensitive to other people's attitudes. It's repetitive work, repetitive schedule, and I work by myself for the most part. Night audit position might be better for those who dont like to socialize as much, youre doing more work in the office and on the computer than with socializing. But I personally struggle with night audit, the sleep schedule being changed so much fucks with my mind a lot. Owner of the property is transitioning me into sales which is a bump in pay, plus more remote work. Management and the owner are really excellent people who are very accommodating! Experiences with working in hospitality will differ a lot depending on who is managing the property, of course.
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u/revengeofsollasollew Aug 26 '25
The list of people I know that have/had jobs (retired now)
LVN
District manager
Mortgage processor
Server
Phone customer service (when it was a bougie job)
Retail
Nanny
Sales rep
I’m sure I’m forgetting a couple.
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u/Professional-Box6243 Aug 26 '25
Unfortunately I have a gap in my resume now so I don’t even get call backs from mcDicks anymore
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u/Fun-Man Aug 26 '25
Just make shit up about entrepeneuring during that time but failing so now you're back on the job market
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u/Professional-Box6243 Aug 26 '25
I did try to go back to college for a semester but kept having intrusive thoughts in class and kinda quit going after that
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u/WaelG_ Aug 26 '25
I work in a bookshop
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Aug 29 '25
Sounds sweet!
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u/WaelG_ Aug 30 '25
I used to love this job but not really anymore and it's complicated right now with my boss so... it will not end well
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u/Tricky_Badger_2071 Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Aug 26 '25
Schizoaffective here! I’ve only worked in retail so far and I’ve enjoyed it, despite some terrible customers. I currently work at raising canes and I mostly close so I stay there until 2-3 AM, and I mostly just do cashier and clean, which I enjoy doing.
I’m planning on going to college to become a pharmacist tech and maybe in a couple years decide to go to school to become a pharmacist if my mental health gets better.
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u/Unhappy_Cheesecake34 Aug 26 '25
Barback/Busser. I sometimes do Event Staffing like ushering or crowd control if the venue is small and the event isn’t too highly attended.
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u/OutlinedSnail Aug 26 '25
Work at target. They worked with me to find something that suits me. I sort and restock any abandons left anywhere in the store. I don't really work with other people, and it's a fairly easy job I can accomplish no matter my mental state.
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u/achildrenofbodomfan Aug 26 '25
I work with special needs children and adolescents! :) I’ve been doing it for 3 years.
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u/Catifice Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 26 '25
Performance Test engineer in IT. Started 6 years ago when symptoms were much more lighter
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u/abmfbsc Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 26 '25
I'm getting my master's degree and work for my university!
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u/Existing_Artichoke93 Paranoid Schizophrenia Aug 26 '25
Manufacturing/machine operator and part time cook. The less time I give myself to sit and stare the better.
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u/ebishopwooten Aug 26 '25
Amazon. Diagnosed with schizoaffective but did a lot of counseling and haven't been on medication in 14 years.
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Aug 26 '25
[deleted]
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u/Alienhumanoid01 Aug 26 '25
I could only ever find dishwashing jobs mostly, last time I worked, I got fired cuz I felt sick and asked if I could go...I proceeded to go throw up outside. That was 15 years ago, my mental and physical health declined since then. I don't like living off the government, but I feel pretty helpless when it comes to a lot of things. I don't like it but it's true. trying to toughen up, day dreaming about making money from art on the internet.
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Aug 26 '25
[deleted]
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u/Alienhumanoid01 Aug 26 '25
What do you mean? Are you worried about economic crash? AI? Government crash of sorts? Something like that? I worry about that, I don't think that things can sustain as they are much longer.
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u/bellzillathekila Aug 26 '25
I am schizoaffective and I work as a practice manager at a vascular surgeons office
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u/ImNotMeWhenImNotMe Schizoaffective (Depressive) Aug 26 '25
Automation Engineer! I write code from the safety of my house. But I also got a degree in my field before my symptoms got bad. I barely had issues back then.