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First job rejection since diagnosis. Why are interviews seen as the best way to judge your abilities?

Biblio44

Apologies, I may well rant a bit here.

Diagnosed with ASD just over 5 weeks ago, at age 43. Still trying to accept that and wondering how to move forward in life. 

Received my degree results 2 weeks ago - BSc first class honours, despite various burnouts/shutdowns etc etc. I am proud of that achievement despite the huge toll it took on me.

Decided to apply for a job I know I could easily do, directly related to my degree, and I was invited for interview (which was totally exhausting for days before, actual day of interview, and a whole week of waiting for outcome).

I then receive a standard email today saying I was not suitable for the position. I am so frustrated. I know this will sound arrogant but I believe I have a higher level of intelligence than all 4 people who interviewed me. I have considered deleting that sentence but I believe it to be true so I have left it in.

I know the interview was probably not brilliant but I did my best to get across my skills and knowledge. Why oh why does the world insist on using interviews as the main way to judge whether someone is suitable for a job or not? 

Feeling quite angry and frustrated at the moment.

I wish there was an alternative method to interviews, it puts me at a disadvantage immediately. Has anyone heard of any companies using alternative methods to recruit? 

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  • Former Member
    Former Member

    You say you have a high level of intelligence but is this related to the skills you need for the workplace or simply academic intelligence. It is clear you know that workplace interviews are an that you struggle with but how did you deploy your intelligence to limit or overcome the areas you find challenging in these situations? For example, did you confidently explain your needs and deploy any strategies you need to perform at your best? I often suffer from sensory overload in these situations, which affects so my processing speed. As such, I get the interview panel to provide me with the questions in advance so that I thoroughly think through what I want to say before I'm placed in the interview situation. 

  • in reply to Former Member

    I think I got that sensory overload thing last summer. I was just in pieces throughout. Never happened before. No flow.

    Getting info in advance seems like a good idea if they will do that. Of course it's tough to know how to ask for these things. I did have someone listen sympathetically on that occasion but I didn't really know what it was I needed. 

    Having a quiet, clam space beforehand may be really important. I noticed that I had that recently (one of my interviewer's was late) and I performed well.  

    I think it's right what I've been told, that interviewer's tend to have a preconceived idea of the person they want or which characteristics would put you into that category. So I'm not sure there's a lot you can do about it in interview. Maybe the best advice is just to be who you are and regard the interview as nothing more than finding out whether that's who they wanted or not. 

Reply
  • in reply to Former Member

    I think I got that sensory overload thing last summer. I was just in pieces throughout. Never happened before. No flow.

    Getting info in advance seems like a good idea if they will do that. Of course it's tough to know how to ask for these things. I did have someone listen sympathetically on that occasion but I didn't really know what it was I needed. 

    Having a quiet, clam space beforehand may be really important. I noticed that I had that recently (one of my interviewer's was late) and I performed well.  

    I think it's right what I've been told, that interviewer's tend to have a preconceived idea of the person they want or which characteristics would put you into that category. So I'm not sure there's a lot you can do about it in interview. Maybe the best advice is just to be who you are and regard the interview as nothing more than finding out whether that's who they wanted or not. 

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