Despairing of the modern workplace

Billy87 said:

I honestly feel that employers are simply stupid because neurodiverse people could be such a benefit to companies

I get this, but as someone who worked in the corporate environment for many decades (with lots of recruitment to do) I can see both sides of this debate.

Yes we can offer a lot but we typically come with so much baggage that it makes us a bigger overhead than benefit.  This is obviously dependant on the role but most roles require team work, customer interactions and performance reviews which are likely to be hurdles for us.

Billy87 said:

Also, and this is a big one for me, application forms. My brain does not work in a way that makes me able to do application forms.

Forms in general are a huge part of corporate life as they feel a need to standardise things and make everything in a level playing field - but in your situation you are unable to use their processes which they believe are making appications fair to all. It is a very uncommon issue you have unfortunately but not one that bigger employers are every likely to do anything about.

Billy87 said:

Job adverts are another one, every job these days wants someone who is "dynamic" and a "go getter" even if its just to be a receptionist!

For a long time employers have been able to be choosy about who they employ so they want someone who is able to do more than the minumum for the role - and all the usual word salad for applications is used to bring in the best applicants - or so they think.

I worked in the civil service for a while and had to hire quite a lot of IT staff and was directed to use standard job descriptions and interview techniques. The salaries were not great but the applicants were typically not able to meet the minimum requirements - this was only found out in the interview stage where I tested their IT abilities (techniques and problem solving ability rather than specific knowledge).

Looking back on these interviews there were a lot of people who were probably on the spectrum who applied and most of them failed on the "performing under pressure" part of the interview where I would role play a difficult customer calling in about an issue  - most would freeze up or babble rather than be able to think logically and calm the customer.

I also used to be good friends with reception staff (they are tremendously useful to know as they know all the gossip!) and give them priority treatment and backup when they needed it - their job is under appreciated as they have to deal with all sorts of problem customers from crooks, beggars, letchers, stuck up managers and no end of difficult staff / visitors.

It isn't a job for the faint of heart.

The job market has certainly changed since I joined it in the 80s but all we can do now is adapt and try to work with it as I don't see it changing.

Billy87 said:

I honestly feel that employers are simply stupid because neurodiverse people could be such a benefit to companies

I get this, but as someone who worked in the corporate environment for many decades (with lots of recruitment to do) I can see both sides of this debate.

Yes we can offer a lot but we typically come with so much baggage that it makes us a bigger overhead than benefit.  This is obviously dependant on the role but most roles require team work, customer interactions and performance reviews which are likely to be hurdles for us.

Billy87 said:

Also, and this is a big one for me, application forms. My brain does not work in a way that makes me able to do application forms.

Forms in general are a huge part of corporate life as they feel a need to standardise things and make everything in a level playing field - but in your situation you are unable to use their processes which they believe are making appications fair to all. It is a very uncommon issue you have unfortunately but not one that bigger employers are every likely to do anything about.

Billy87 said:

Job adverts are another one, every job these days wants someone who is "dynamic" and a "go getter" even if its just to be a receptionist!

For a long time employers have been able to be choosy about who they employ so they want someone who is able to do more than the minumum for the role - and all the usual word salad for applications is used to bring in the best applicants - or so they think.

I worked in the civil service for a while and had to hire quite a lot of IT staff and was directed to use standard job descriptions and interview techniques. The salaries were not great but the applicants were typically not able to meet the minimum requirements - this was only found out in the interview stage where I tested their IT abilities (techniques and problem solving ability rather than specific knowledge).

Looking back on these interviews there were a lot of people who were probably on the spectrum who applied and most of them failed on the "performing under pressure" part of the interview where I would role play a difficult customer calling in about an issue  - most would freeze up or babble rather than be able to think logically and calm the customer.

I also used to be good friends with reception staff (they are tremendously useful to know as they know all the gossip!) and give them priority treatment and backup when they needed it - their job is under appreciated as they have to deal with all sorts of problem customers from crooks, beggars, letchers, stuck up managers and no end of difficult staff / visitors.

It isn't a job for the faint of heart.

The job market has certainly changed since I joined it in the 80s but all we can do now is adapt and try to work with it as I don't see it changing.