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Job interviews while Autisic

Always Anxious

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. 

Parents

  • 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

Reply

  • 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

Children
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