Job interviews while Autisic

Hi all,

Just got rejected for a job yet again for the reason of “not selling myself enough” I’ve never been able to do this and after getting diagnosed in 2020 (just before the lockdown) I haven’t really though about how it affects me but after another rejection I am thinking “is it because of how my Austin’s (and anxiety) affects me that prevents me from talking about myself and my achievements. And if it is will I ever be able to overcome it.

I loved the place I was working but I was only a temp with the opportunity to go full time, I am devastated that I’ll have to be leaving a place I felt so comfortable and people accepted me and my diagnoses. 

  • Oh I am so sorry to hear this. I'm very comfortable in my work and would feel the exact same if I had to leave and find somewhere else.

    My employer is very good and fair. They aren't aware of my ASD but they are aware of my other health struggles and are supportive. I don't know how they would be if I tried explaining my autism so I never have chanced it.

    I hope you'll be able to find another job where you're comfortable and happy.

    -Dreamer.

  • Hi Always Anxious

    These are simple to locate. The majority of career counsellors and the national careers centre carry them out.

    The actual ones prove to be more antagonistic and erratic when it comes to questioning. Additionally, the participants frequently engage in mind games or put my talents to the test in practice. I perform admirably in mock interviews, but I completely fail in the actual ones. The primary distinction, in my opinion, is that the practice questions are standard, amiable, and predictable.

    It can be downloaded for free here: https://www.autism.org.uk/shop/products/books-and-resources/finding-work-interactive-ebook slope game

  • Thanks for the advice. I guess what I meant to say is, I clearly exhibit social anxiety and awkwardness, even when I am inside very confident in my ability to do the job. To be fair I don't have much experience so I think I mainly need more practice at 'playing the part'.

  • Anxiety will make it difficult to convince an employer, unless they see it as just nervousness.  Anxiety management is a good thing to learn so google for online guides or courses, or self-help books.  It takes time, you need to change your thoughts and beliefs about interviews and yourself, that they are something to look forward to and enjoy. You also need more interviews to try things out, so keep applying for jobs, and practice in your mind - visualise walking in confident and ready, able to cope with whatever they throw at you.

    Growth mindset, worth reading up about and work on - autistic people tend to be rigid and assume/believe they can't change, but that's not true, it just takes a lot of effort over a long period.

    Confidence will build by learning to manage your thoughts and feelings about yourself, interviews, and the job itself.  Know yourself, trust yourself - "I can do this".

  • I hope the document helps. I realised that I usually take the questions too literally/answer too honestly and forget to think about what they 'want' or how to make myself look good. But the worst thing is that I appear too anxious in interviews and that makes them assume that I lack confidence. I have loads of confidence in some things, just not interviews.

  • Ask for reasonable adjustments under the equality act that’s what I did, if they can’t honour them then I won’t be able to work there.

  • I'm really sorry you didn't get the job you wanted.

    I use my masking as my super-power in interviews. I tell myself "I'm so used to pretending to be my best self (most acceptable to neurotypical people self) that this is just a normal social interaction for me, so no big deal."  

    Selling yourself is something you need to practice in advance. Sit down and write a list of all your pros and cons (be honest, this is not the time for being modest) Really get to know yourself and what you can offer. Everyone has flaws but everyone also has strengths. If you study yourself like you would study for a test then when you get to the interview you can apply all that knowledge about yourself and answer quicker and sell yourself more.

    Really think about the job and how you would be good and bad at each part of it, this way you can emphasis your strengths in relation to that job and steer conversation away from your weaknesses. 

    Also, plan some answers in advance. For example when I'm asked "What is your weakness?" I say "I am physically weak so I can't help with lifting things and moving things about." This is a good way to answer this question (unless you are applying for warehouse work or something that involves heaving lifting as a main part of the job) as employers can't discriminate against you for stuff like that. And always offer a solution if possible, for example, if your weakness is time management say "My weakness is time management, but I use a written diary and I set alarms on my phone to remind me to do things so this does not affect my work." 

    The truth is you are valuable as an employee and you owe it to yourself to find away to communicate that. I'm not saying it is easy at all but I do believe you can get better at selling yourself. You don't necessarily need to be super confident, you just need to be on your side, you need to be your own cheerleader and get used to celebrating what you are good at, and sugar coating the stuff that you're not so good at. And when you get home you can cringe privately about how awkward it is to say nice things about yourself Sweat smile

  • Its really tough, but here's what I've learnt:

    1. Work on managing your thoughts, as worries and doubts lead to anxiety (or more anxiety) and you won't be focused on success or being confident about yourself and what you can do.

    2. Confidence to sell yourself well and manage interviews well can't just be switched on, it comes from working on things, developing your skills and using your thoughts to self-coach yourself and focused on success.

    3. Don't dread interviews, switch it around to it being a learning challenge, to try out things you have worked on and before hand imagine being confident about it and it going well.  Keep imagining that up until you go in.

    4. Learn from feedback, and not see it as failure - you are programming your brain to get better at it.

    5. You will have competition from others, you have to try and spot any advantages you may have and sell those.  You may have to consider other roles if you work out you are just not going to compete well, or work out what you could do improve your chances.

    6. Think about volunteering if you might be unemployed for a while, and also do courses that might be useful.  National Careers Advice have lists of courses you can look through, usually free ones available if you qualify when on Universal Credit etc.

  • Had a very similar experience working as a temp and getting rejected in the job interview because I didn't elaborate enough. I couldn't understand as I answered the questions they asked. I was great at the job I was doing and the people I worked with were annoyed I didn't get the job. 

    The interview process for the local council was supposed to be fair because you get hired based on achieving a number of points which requires more than just answering the question they asked which is very difficult for many with autism so not fair for them. 

    If you feel like you have or could gain skills that allow you to freelance and not have a normal interview then that's an option. 

    Otherwise researching what type of questions might be asked and what detail you can go into, preparing multiple examples of how you showed a positive quality can help. Write down lots of examples when you've done something good at work or in life and try to memorize them if that's possible.

    I wish you all the best with getting work.

  • you won't fail practice ones for not being able to keep up masking throughout

    more hostile

    questions are often designed to fail people they find unsuitable, e.g.

    Have you ever missed a day at work? (I suspect it really means: Are you willing to lie for us to make us look pretty?)

    If you did and you stammer when lying in public, what is your choice actually? 

  • Practice interviews!

    These are easy to find.  Most career advisors and the national careers centre do them.

    I pass practice interviews with flying colours, but I go to pieces at the real ones.  I think the big difference is that the practice ones are generic and fairly friendly and predictable.  The real ones turn out to be unpredictable with regards to questions and more hostile.  Also the people involved often play mind games or there is some practical test of my skills.

  • Hi Always Anxious.

    I would firstly like to say I'm very sorry that you failed to get the job you were after because of your interview. 

    I can relate to the anxiety you feel as it's something that has always cropped up with me all my life. I have medication that helps me but not all the time.

    I think the anxiety can start when I get asked questions on the spot in an interview but over the years I've learned to take my time and try and compose myself before giving an answer. I probably come across weird as over analysing the question and probably going over board with a answer but generally I've not been to bad as I've got older.

    I do prefer jobs where I am on my own or if I have to work with someone it's not to bad but I'd hate to work in a group of a people there would be too much chat going on around me.

    I recently started a part time cleaning job I already do a full time job but obviously with the cost of living crisis going on at the minute the bills need to be paid. I really enjoy it as the offices are almost empty by the time I start but I do dread if anyone starts talking to me as my head can go blank or words will come out back to front in sentences etc which is annoying.

    Good luck with future interviews.

  • I've copied that link. I hope it helps!

  • I'm autistic and when being interviewed I don't get the cues when to stop talking, plus I don't get the questions, or how the people asking really wants them answered. I can overcome some of this by asking for the question to be repeated, tried that, but still didn't get the stop talking cue. That can be solved by explaining I'm autistic before the meeting, but then I will be judged before I'm even met. The final point is the worst, I have only a limited idea of what people want to hear. 

  • Wow that is a stupid reason to reject you, I'm so sorry. You might find this document useful, for future interviews. www.recruitguelph.ca/.../Asperger's and ASD Job Interview Tips.pdf It explains how you are really supposed to respond to the questions. (I thought I already knew but it turns out I misunderstood some things.)

  • This afternoon I got a job rejection for a job I applied for in early December

  • Hi , I'm really sorry to hear about the job rejection. You've had useful responses from other community members, but I thought you and others could benefit from the below information.

    Here are some resources which may help: 

    Firstly, our ‘Finding Work’ handbook aims to support autistic job seekers to find work. This digital workbook is designed to help autistic adults prepare themselves for employment. Topics include understanding autism better, choosing a suitable role, applying for roles, preparing for and getting through interviews, finding work experience, working on communication and social skills, managing anxiety and preparing for the workplace. It can be downloaded for free here: https://www.autism.org.uk/shop/products/books-and-resources/finding-work-interactive-ebook 

    We have also made available a free online learning module designed to help autistic job seekers entering the job market in understanding their strengths and what next steps they could take towards gaining meaningful employment or work: 
    https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/professional-development/training-and-conferences/employment/finding-employment 

    Additionally, it could be worthwhile looking at the Evenbreak website for listed job vacancies (http://www.evenbreak.co.uk/). Even break matches disabled job seekers with employers looking to build a diverse workforce. 

    The British Association of Supported Employment, who have a database of supported employment agencies, so you can search for one in your local area: www.base-uk.org 

    Remploy, an organisation which supports people with disabilities and those experiencing complex barriers to work, into mainstream employment: www.remploy.co.uk 

    I have also included a link to our job-page: https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/work-for-usWithin this page you can click on our job and volunteering page to find out about our current employment and volunteering opportunities with The National Autistic Society. We particularly welcome applications from autistic people. 

    Finally, you can find more information about seeking a job, and about your rights in work here: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/employment 

    I hope these help.

    Best wishes,

    Anna Mod

  • I had two job interviews last year, one local and one about 40 miles journey away from home , train

    Got told both times I interviewed well but.....

    Also Had two work trails got treated like crap at both of them

  • I've been on some, roughly 50, job interviews for an accountant during last 5 years and no luck so far.

    None since I was diagnosed autistic 8 months ago.

    I was successful only ONCE during interview for a job, it was supermarket store assistant job (after 3 of them in other stores have failed), it wouldn't have happened probably if I haven't worked in a different supermarket for 7 years, and that I left because of being bullied by manager, while manager in new store had a taste of that himself a year earlier, being bullied by the same person.

    Throughout my life I could only get a job through agency, and only those requiring no qualifications, or when someone referred me.

    Once, in Volkswagen, after few months through agency they offered me a contract.

    I've sent thousands of applications, On average 1 in 100 gets answered with a generic, meaningless ''No, thank you.'', and the reason given is one of those generic excuses they've got plenty available, even when you disclose you're autistic. E.g. ''You're under qualified.'', ''You're over qualified.'', ''You've got no experience.''

    While all that's required is someone vouching for you (like in one of those referral schemes), but I know no accountants, and to be honest among people that ''I talk to, and they answer me'' there is only one doing a job that's not 'no qualifications required' kind of job, and he is maintenance technician for national rail, so nobody really who could even advice me..

    But I'm most stubborn person on this planet and I do not intend to give up.

    Never give up, never surrender. 

  • Have you tried going through the well-being hub for employment support? I found it quite useful. They tell you how to answer questions, and how to refer to the detail in your CV when answering questions. Not only will they do you a CV that will really sell you, they will also guide you through the interview questions your likely to be asked etc.

    I wrote my replies to some questions I was given, and my answers were typically Autistic; short, blunt and factual. That’s not what an employer wants to hear, so you’ll be given advice on how to reword what you’ve just said, but in a way that exaggerates your qualities….

    Just a thought….

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