• Replies 20 replies
  • Subscribers 84 subscribers
  • Views 1808 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Job interview coaching

NAS74377

Hello, I am a mother of 21 year old daughter who is struggling to land a first job in software development. Long story, she has had several interviews and can clearly do the job as she passes through the technical interview stage but then she fails at the general competency such as team work, feedback etc. She is reluctant to tell the interviewers about her autism diagnosis. She can come across short, does not smile and only asks technical questions when prompted thus seems not interested in the team and the softer elements of job. She has just had the latest rejection, the feedback was the employer thought that the other candidate would work better in the team. I am so sad for my daughter. We just had a chat, I suggested to we look for a coach to help her prepare for the interview next time. Can anyone recommend a coach? Thank you, Dasha  

Parents

  • It's awful really how employers seem to want someone who can reel off a script of perfected answers, rather than just be real. The problem with coaching is that it's like masking, you can excel at the interview but then can't keep it up in the workplace. I do feel like being honest about her diagnosis will be the best way forward, then she can be her real self, which is what she will be when she gets job anyway. Masking (pretending to be neurotypical to fit in) does get easier as you get older, but it's honestly draining and leaves you burnt out. I'm always honest with people now so they know what to expect. Make sure she explains her qualities - attention to detail, very focused, hardworking, will put in 100%, that sort of thing. 

  • in reply to Cloud44
    Cloud44 said:
    It's awful really how employers seem to want someone who can reel off a script of perfected answers, rather than just be real.

    A big driver for this is actually equality.

    All candidates have to be scored on exactly the same questions with the same panel of interviewers so there can be no consideration of bias.

    As a result going all freestyle in your answer makes it hard to get a reliabley consistent score so you will get marked down in most cases.

    Cloud44 said:
    The problem with coaching is that it's like masking, you can excel at the interview but then can't keep it up in the workplace.

    This is a strong reason why only around 20% of autistic adults are in work.

    Cloud44 said:
    I do feel like being honest about her diagnosis will be the best way forward

    It is a tricky one. You can learn to fit into the NT world and earn a living, get a bit of a social life and feel involved at the cost of a lot of masking or be fully authentic and effectively live as a hermit it seems. It will depend what the daughter wants to have.

    So long as the efforts and costs (in terms of energy and stress) are clearly explained then it is her freedom of choice.

  • in reply to Iain

    Thank you all for your views and insights, I shall reflect and find way to help my daughter in the best way I can. 

Reply Children
No Data