CV Disclosure

I wouldn't put it on your CV- too many employers have a poor understanding of autism and that could result in them unfairly rejecting your application. If you need accommodations at the interview stage you might want to bring it up then, but I would still be careful unless you know the company is good for autistic employees- until then, it would be best to discuss just the exact accommodations you need, e.g. interviewing in a room with plenty of natural light if typical office lighting is a sensory problem for you.

battybats said:

I wouldn't put it on your CV- too many employers have a poor understanding of autism

I agree.

Employers see autism as a disability that makes it hard for us to work well with the rest of the NTs in the workforce so we are often silently discriminated against.

Looking at it from an emplyers point of view, it would seem that you are possibly going to be less productive, need a lot more adaptations than the other staff and may not get with the social group you are working in - so I can see why they do this.

It varies from company to company though - researching will help a lot with the decision.

It sounds like you are particularly impacted by burnout so the flip side of this arguement could be that you may need to disclose your diagnosis in order for them to take into account your situation.

It could be that there are other roles in the project management side you can take on, have you considered this? This way your track record can work to your advantage.

I'm from a similar backgrund (I was in IT management and project management) and get it - I spent years hovering on the edge of a burnout towards the end.

My solution was to change careers to something I really enjoy doing - now I manage a property renovation company in Brazil that gets abandoned apartments back to as-new condition and supplies affordable housing this way.

I get to control the interactions with others to my capabilities at the time and can spend days working away on my own on some of the flats like a form of therapy.

Do you have any resonable alternative career paths open to you now that avoid the stuff that leads to burnout?

battybats said:

I wouldn't put it on your CV- too many employers have a poor understanding of autism

I agree.

Employers see autism as a disability that makes it hard for us to work well with the rest of the NTs in the workforce so we are often silently discriminated against.

Looking at it from an emplyers point of view, it would seem that you are possibly going to be less productive, need a lot more adaptations than the other staff and may not get with the social group you are working in - so I can see why they do this.

It varies from company to company though - researching will help a lot with the decision.

It sounds like you are particularly impacted by burnout so the flip side of this arguement could be that you may need to disclose your diagnosis in order for them to take into account your situation.

It could be that there are other roles in the project management side you can take on, have you considered this? This way your track record can work to your advantage.

I'm from a similar backgrund (I was in IT management and project management) and get it - I spent years hovering on the edge of a burnout towards the end.

My solution was to change careers to something I really enjoy doing - now I manage a property renovation company in Brazil that gets abandoned apartments back to as-new condition and supplies affordable housing this way.

I get to control the interactions with others to my capabilities at the time and can spend days working away on my own on some of the flats like a form of therapy.

Do you have any resonable alternative career paths open to you now that avoid the stuff that leads to burnout?

Iain said:

battybats said:

I wouldn't put it on your CV- too many employers have a poor understanding of autism

I agree.

Employers see autism as a disability that makes it hard for us to work well with the rest of the NTs in the workforce so we are often silently discriminated against.

Yeah I agree with this too, I have always masked like the dickens in the interview then hit them with it after I have already got my foot in the door and the probation period has ended to maximise my legal pretections when I eventually let them know, like if I need to ask for adjustments etc.

NAS87081 said:

I would like to change to something less stressful and more creative - however this still leaves the question of how to word this on my CV

I recall reading that the majority of workers will change career 3 times in their lives, so what you are considering is nothing unusual.

You don't have to explain why you are changing during the written application, just the face to face interview, so think about why you really want to change and make sure you rehearse this (script) again and again to make sure if comes across as positive and not negative.

Don't say "my old career was too stressful and I was having breakdowns. I hated it and couldn't do it any more so I want to get out an do something like this as it looks easy".

Do say "I have long had a passion for being a gardener and took every opportunity to work on this when I had the chance. I have green fingers and a real affinity for potatoes so it feels right to me to want to work in an area that makes me feel so alive."

The practice will get you used to being positive and letting your enthusiasm come through which is a huge part in getting the role.

If you don't have a coach who can help you with this then drop me a line and we can arrange some skype / teams / zoom type sessions to get you in the zone when you are good and ready.

Thanks Iain,

I think I need to pursue alternative career path as you suggest. I have tried to take a back seat in my current industry and found it very frustrating; I know too much, tend to be too helpful and find it difficult not to intervene when I see things going wrong,- there are just too many triggers for me.

I would like to change to something less stressful and more creative - however this still leaves the question of how to word this on my CV - surely anyone reading my CV and seeing a history of senior roles in major projects is going to wonder why I am applying for a gardening job unless I say something?