Diagnoses of autism have become more prevalent over the last several years, as has the awareness of the condition. There are many adults on the autism spectrum who are more than capable of holding down jobs and participating in business activities, but many still have problems with the application process. Below are four of the ways that adults with autism can strengthen their chances when it comes to applying for a job.
Work Within Areas of Strength
The next logical step to take is to look at those areas that speak to an individual’s areas of strengths. If you have issues with significant social interactions, for example, it might make sense to look for positions that require less team-based work. If certain physical stimuli are an issue, on the other hand, you may want to seek out fields that don’t tend to regularly feature those problems. Finding a workplace that allows you to embrace your strengths is always a good idea, and it’s usually the best way to put your own unique skills to their best use. In the following video, we can see that some companies are actually looking for people with the special skills Autistic people have. The problem, of course, is the interview. But now companies are finding alternative ways to screen autistic candidates.
The Interview
The best solution would be to go through an agency that specializes in placing autistic people because high-stress situations like interviews, can often trigger behaviors that can be seen as problematic. However, if one isn’t available in your area the next best thing you can do is to prepare with mock interviews. Go over questions that might be asked in order to pre-plan your answers and work with others to simulate the interview environment. Turning the interview process into another rote activity can make it far less stressful. Practice with someone you are comfortable with so that you can take the time you need to focus on breathing, speaking clearly, and maintaining eye contact without overstraining your social meter.
Should You Mention Autism/Aspergers?
While your diagnosis might be part of who you are, it’s not necessarily something that needs to be brought up during the interview. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to autism and many interviewers will look negatively on those who bring up a diagnosis early on. On the other hand, there are companies that might actually prefer someone with Aspergers. Large companies may have to fill disability quotas and might actually give you a preference.
The single caveat here is that you can and should bring up any reasonable accommodations that you need, as businesses cannot discriminate based on disability. However, if you feel that the accommodations can be easily met after you’ve already been hired, it may be best to wait until after the hiring process to avoid unconscious bias in your interviewer. However, if your condition is obvious to the interviewer you should probably discuss it, so as to eliminate “the elephant in the room”. If you don’t discuss it, they may feel that you aren’t being honest.
Be Aware of Your Rights
The first and perhaps most important step that an individual with autism should take when looking for a job is being aware of your rights. You should read up on disability rights and to be sure companies aren’t discriminating against you. If you feel they have, you might consider consulting with a disability discrimination attorney.
Applying for a job as an individual with autism is not impossible. Get the knowledge you need, prepare ahead of time, and go into the interview prepared to concentrate on your strengths. Remember, the modern workforce is full of people with various diagnoses and autism cannot and should not be a barrier to employment.
You might also like:
- 4 Tips for Job Searching with Little Work Experience
- Being Unemployed Is Tough… Doing These 8 Things Can Make Your Life Better
- How to Get a Good Job Fast When Unemployed
- Job Hunting Anxiety? 4 Tips for Nailing Your Next Interview
- Putting Your Best Foot Forward: How to Make Sure You’re a Good Candidate for Hire
