Adult revealing autism at interviews?

I wouldn't say anything at the interview stage. While employers/potential employers aren't supposed to discriminate against people with the identities mentioned in the Equality Act, there is a stigma around autism, unfortunately. Once you're in a job it can be worth disclosing if and when you need accommodations, but it's still something I'd be cautious about, depending on the job and the accommodations needed.

I currently work in regulatory affairs which is very much a field that lends itself to autistic thinking, much like engineering is always thought of as a field where lots of autistic people end up. I still haven't told anyone there, just in case- though to be fair, I don't need any accommodations because I work from home.

Hi Battybats, thanks for your insight. After reading your thoughts and those from Disnep and Number, I have been hiding it for good reason. I've tried to find a work from home job in my field but unfortunately the offices either do not trust staff to be at home or want lots of staff in the office for some fake "office culture". I will take your advice and try to get my jobs without mentioning it. It's worked so far; I just cant keep the jobs.

Funny you mention engineering. I'm already in a related field, although mine is a little more pretentious, which goes against the autism, but strangely goes with the masking. Maybe I should think about the pretentions of my industry and mask that way, with the rest of the "normals". Going with the grain rather than against. There is definitely something Orwellian about my recent experiences, and that needs to end. Thanks

Sorry to butt in.....

I think this is the wise decision NAS 84940, but I would just like to squirt in a little caution here for you (forgive the adjective - I'm autistic don't you know [or just odd.])

Don't push yourself too hard on the masking side of things.  Perhaps bring in a little self-deprecating acknowledgement of your "oddness" to give yourself a little latitude in behaviour with others - if you need to blow off some steam to keep yourself sane around work colleagues for instance.  Perhaps consciously allow yourself and give yourself permission to be outright autistic at times when you can control and/or don't care who knows what.

I give this cautionary note to you as a gift.  You sound very similar to me, although you are self aware enough to find this place at this stage of your journey....I did not.  Accordingly, I didn't know I was masking, I just though I was dangerously messed-up in the head and that I didn't fit in this world - despite all outward appearances being to the contrary !  Don't take yourself for granted - I burnt out !

Good luck, and it has been lovely to interact with you so openly and constructively today.

Its only 2 years on from my diagnosis and having had time off work due to ill health do I now realise what masking means properly for me. 

A masking meltdown. ...I think that was me a few years ago. Good old alexithymia. I often wonder if some of alexithymia is often due to masking. We are so out of touch with what we really feel because we have tried so long to meet others' expectations.

I have some unhealthy coping strategies also. It's very upsetting when you dont know why you need to do those things. Now it's a case of trying to find alternatives because you do finally know why.

I used to tell people I had Peter Pan syndrome to excuse my weirdness. Now I just smile and say I'm a bit weird, and hope others aren't laughing at me too much.

I know what you mean. Sorry to hear you burnt out. I have a saying when I am reaching my limit: "too many strands" and I tend to hand in my notice. About masking, looking back I didn't realise I was masking. I knew I was being a bit pretentious, but rode along on a wave of "quirky geekiness" and I think people used to find me alternative and perhaps entertaining in previous jobs, though it was a bit exhausting. Now that I'm in a senior position, I am expected to simply perform, without the "quirkiness". It's basically no fun for me, and in an industry which seems to breed brats (sorry to be blunt, I might be autistic you know) their entertainment is to load, fire and reload. Outing an autistic plays to the cliques. I have little interest in leading them, helping them to succeed or even working alongside them if that is the way they choose to get ahead. The brats seem to get married, have kids and move to suburbia, then they become as childish as their pre-school counterparts. I think I might be better at home, in a job with more serious people or where I work for myself. Thanks for your openness and insights!

.....well, therein lay my real dilemma....or should I call it demon!!!  I would mask my "crash and burns" too!!

I masked hard - and was REALLY good at it - and I have the stamina of an ox - and I had structured and curated a life for myself that could just about contain me and the world in some sort of tolerable harmony.

But you can imagine the type of chaos a masking meltdown-ridden dude can cause when he has absolutely no idea why he is behaving, acting and feeling the way he does.....whilst also remaining in virtual monopoly charge of himself.  Scary !

My coping strategies were not always healthy nor good ones for myself nor those around me...but I didn't know why I had them....I knew they were benign in motive, but the results were often malignant - most especially for me.

What the hell is wrong with me....am I mad, bad or sad.  Answer:- Autistic, with only a standard amount of mad, bad and sad sprinklings!

I think I masked that hard I didn't really have any coping strategies apart from crash and burn!

I think I masked that hard I didn't really have any coping strategies apart from crash and burn!

Its only 2 years on from my diagnosis and having had time off work due to ill health do I now realise what masking means properly for me. 

A masking meltdown. ...I think that was me a few years ago. Good old alexithymia. I often wonder if some of alexithymia is often due to masking. We are so out of touch with what we really feel because we have tried so long to meet others' expectations.

I have some unhealthy coping strategies also. It's very upsetting when you dont know why you need to do those things. Now it's a case of trying to find alternatives because you do finally know why.

I used to tell people I had Peter Pan syndrome to excuse my weirdness. Now I just smile and say I'm a bit weird, and hope others aren't laughing at me too much.

.....well, therein lay my real dilemma....or should I call it demon!!!  I would mask my "crash and burns" too!!

I masked hard - and was REALLY good at it - and I have the stamina of an ox - and I had structured and curated a life for myself that could just about contain me and the world in some sort of tolerable harmony.

But you can imagine the type of chaos a masking meltdown-ridden dude can cause when he has absolutely no idea why he is behaving, acting and feeling the way he does.....whilst also remaining in virtual monopoly charge of himself.  Scary !

My coping strategies were not always healthy nor good ones for myself nor those around me...but I didn't know why I had them....I knew they were benign in motive, but the results were often malignant - most especially for me.

What the hell is wrong with me....am I mad, bad or sad.  Answer:- Autistic, with only a standard amount of mad, bad and sad sprinklings!