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Social Skills have too high a premium in the workplace?

Atypical

In the world of employment there is a significant focus on social skills and the ability to ‘play the game’. Arguably, this is one of the greatest barriers to many on the Spectrum and could account for many injustices in this regard. The ability to a job, with or without adjustments, is often trumped over whether someone is the ‘right’ person. I’ve been told that the right person is needed because the time spent at work is longer than with Partners. Others think of the workplace as a family and  feel it’s important to recruit someone who they can ‘get along with.’ Indeed, if someone doesn’t come across as sociable or likable, an application can be dismissed very quickly. Statistics suggest that ASD people are often not given a fair chance and this was rightly highlighted in the NAS ‘Could you stand the Rejection?’ (Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h8iF0TAmyr4).

I believe this occurs from a misunderstanding/misapplication of Equality and Diversity. My reading is this, Equality and Diversity is about embracing difference and accommodating this in a work environment. This might create more work and necessitate a change of culture but in doing so, the benefits outweigh any inconvenience.

I’ve always leaned towards strengthing legal protections and enhancing powers of regulators. What are your views?

Parents

  • Fully agree.  In many ways I feel misled as throughout my education teachers insisted that good qualifications will lead to a "good job."

    Unfortunately I never thought to ask them about what they thought was a "good job" or to really examine my own thoughts and inclinations.  Somehow (and I don't know whether this is a common experience), I thought they were telling me what would be best and it came as a surprise when careers advisors seemed to suddenly switch to asking about what we liked or were interested in.  At all previous levels of education we basically had to do stuff irrespective of whether we were interested, on the basis that these were somehow the "best" things to learn.   Naturally, after clinging on to various courses for as along as I could (I had been taught to get 10/10 for much of the time), I fell off the end of the education system  ill equipped to survive.

    I had a whole rake of qualifications but hardly anything in the way of interpersonal skills.  I also discovered that, given the pressures of the job market, the boot was very firmly on the foot of the employers and I had hardly any choice anyway.  It was more a case of taking what I could get and, in order to even get that far, working  out how to appear to be "the right person for the job."  I quickly learnt how to fake this for the duration of an interview, but could see people becoming puzzled by the very different person who then turned up to do the job. 

    Later in life, in my 40s, I found myself in a position where I was advising people over the phone and, realising that I had no specific training, I enrolled for an interpersonal skills course at the local college.  I didn't expect much and it was very basic but I actually came away wondering why on earth this simple training couldn't have been given to me at the age of 14!  It might have made such a difference. 

    It all perplexes me though.  A part of me is still hoping to trade in my excellent qualifications for the "good job" I always imagined I'd have. 

Reply

  • Fully agree.  In many ways I feel misled as throughout my education teachers insisted that good qualifications will lead to a "good job."

    Unfortunately I never thought to ask them about what they thought was a "good job" or to really examine my own thoughts and inclinations.  Somehow (and I don't know whether this is a common experience), I thought they were telling me what would be best and it came as a surprise when careers advisors seemed to suddenly switch to asking about what we liked or were interested in.  At all previous levels of education we basically had to do stuff irrespective of whether we were interested, on the basis that these were somehow the "best" things to learn.   Naturally, after clinging on to various courses for as along as I could (I had been taught to get 10/10 for much of the time), I fell off the end of the education system  ill equipped to survive.

    I had a whole rake of qualifications but hardly anything in the way of interpersonal skills.  I also discovered that, given the pressures of the job market, the boot was very firmly on the foot of the employers and I had hardly any choice anyway.  It was more a case of taking what I could get and, in order to even get that far, working  out how to appear to be "the right person for the job."  I quickly learnt how to fake this for the duration of an interview, but could see people becoming puzzled by the very different person who then turned up to do the job. 

    Later in life, in my 40s, I found myself in a position where I was advising people over the phone and, realising that I had no specific training, I enrolled for an interpersonal skills course at the local college.  I didn't expect much and it was very basic but I actually came away wondering why on earth this simple training couldn't have been given to me at the age of 14!  It might have made such a difference. 

    It all perplexes me though.  A part of me is still hoping to trade in my excellent qualifications for the "good job" I always imagined I'd have. 

Children
  • in reply to Jenny Butterfly

    My personal view is that the job landscape has changed so that a typical autistic career does not exist. All jobs seem to insist on ‘excelllent communitcation skills’ these days. At the moment, the only real opportunities specifically for ASD is in IT. Whilst this is always welcome, it does not help the vast majority of those on the spectrum who have a variety of interests and careers.

    The next decade needs to be one where nureodiversity is accepted. It will require a significant push, but one that needs to be done.