Published on 12, July, 2020
Hello all,
Today marks a year of unemployment for me since my last paid role at an internship for a market research agency. It has been a truly difficult year to say the least....sometimes I wonder how I'm still alive after going through countless rejections for jobs. I made a recent post a little bit more about myself and my situation, so feel free to have a read just so you can understand with some context.
I feel as though I just cannot seem to gain unemployment...it seems so unattainable, especially with recruiting processes set up mainly for the neurotypical world. For most of the jobs I applied for, I managed to get past the CV stage, but the rejection almost seems to occur at the interview stage or if there is an assessment that requires you to record a video of yourself answering a question. I'll be honest, interviews are not my strength at all - basically anything that requires you to speak or sell yourself - I just cannot thrive in such areas, even having made an attempt to improve on these skills. I could only sell myself through my work and skills - let the work do the talking for you.
Does anyone have any advice on how to tackle unemployment with interviews not being a strong suit? Could you just request for an alternative way of assessment such as a trial shift or portfolio rather than an interview?
There was another post like this recently and I said there that, remember, the job market right now is horrendous. Lots of people, autistic or otherwise, are struggling to get into work. It's just the joys of modern capitalism. the system can't provide. Perseverance is key right now and remember it's not your fault.
The best bet is to keep yourself busy in your spare time. If you're struggling to get into work, fill your work history with things such as freelancing or volunteering. Show that you're trying to get into work, not just sitting around.
And DON'T lie about your work history. That's a really bad thing to do (as someone on this forum is suggesting people do).
You can also mention before interviews you're autistic. Under the Equality Act 2010 you can request reasonable adjustments. That's up to you whether you want to bring it up, but many employers are welcoming about it. For example, if they're trying to make you do a psychometric test they'll have to get something more appropriate.
Also, make sure you're on LinkedIn, write a good profile, and get testimonials on there from past employers and managers (if you can). Create a portfolio of work (if it's relevant to whatever role you're looking for).