Self Advocacy when applying for jobs

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And now I am brainstorming names for the kind of agency I was conceptualising! My current favourite is: "The ASD Talent Bank"

Other suggestions?

Well I guess "autism = ret*d" in your book. I mean seriously. You honestly think that autistic people are that f***ing stupid to fall for a lie like that. I can understand that you want to patronize them so they can feel better about themselves, but seriously, You're gonna lose the trust and respect of any autistic person(s) if you try passing $h!t like that around.

Disclosing only works if you are applying for a job that is looking to hire people with disabilities. The employer is willing to take X amount of those types of employees because of doing some "greater good", or it works in the company's favor as in tax breaks.

Other than that hell.no.

My husband is an Aspie, and job hunting now. There is no upside disclosing before an interview or really during. Look at it at the typical American employers' view point. Why hire potential trouble?

Unless you are so Bill Gates/Stephen Hawkins/out of the world savant in this job, where the company would bend over backwards to have you/keep you, no potential employer will hire take on someone who has "issues" upfront.

Why are you disclosing would be my question. Employers don't want to hear you are a HR problem in the making. And the media does no favors for Autism. Either you are a flawed individual, who needs a cure or you're a potential freak who will shot up the work place.

Work is totally different from school. Your kids have had IEPs and people who give care if they succeed. Work is the shark tank with chum. I'd also suggested mock interviewing until it becomes second nature. Get someone people who actually interview for a living to do it. And make them give HONEST feed back to your students.

Probably not what you wanted to hear....but that is the reality in my area right now.

It's not a lie. I've gone to workshops on "how to nail a job interview", and that's exactly what they do. NTs fake it, too. Only it's easier for them than for us.

I'm certainly not ret*d, I'm almost certainly Asperger's. You have to "fake it" to nail an interview, NT or not. What "lie" are you talking about? It's possible to "be yourself" if you're being interviewed by a friend, or by one who evidently has an ASD (more and more bosses have ASD's.

Last edited by kraftiekortie on 02 Apr 2014, 9:55 am, edited 2 times in total.

B19 has an excellent idea. There are skills in which Aspies and Auties are superior; to publicize them is essential. There are enlightened NT's who understand, through experience, that people on the Spectrum are strong in some essential areas pertaining to computers and engineering, among others. Through doing the job in a thorough manner, people with ASD's frequently are tolerated, even lauded and befriended by their bosses even now.

In the meantime, however, when one is "out in the field" looking for jobs in the year 2014, and there is no such agency present, one has to play a role when in a job interview. One has to dress properly, and to speak properly. One has to "go through the motions" (e.g., shaking hands with the interviewer, making appropriate eye contact). One has to pretend to have a rapport with the interviewer, without coming on too strongly. NT's are strongly conscious that they have to play a role; I've been told this many times by many NT's.

Yes NT's fake it also. As far as I know autistics did not create the expression "Act professional" . Many, probably a majority NT's are unhappy with their jobs. I know saying NT's have problems to is patronizing and we have more and intense problems. That does not make the statements untrue.

Your students must be told the acting can't stop when the interview is over but will likely need to continue on the job. A lot of autistics start out at a new position great then one day they come in tired or stressed or the company makes a change and the autistic traits come out. Also as the autistic employee can get used to and comfortable with the company and let their guard down. At that point the career path stalls or the employee is let go. Evenings and weekends need to be as stress free as possible. Bathroom breaks can help but do not take to many of them. Employers do notice and look down upon employees who take frequent bathroom breaks.

While the odds are against autistics it is possible for an autistic to have a successful career but it takes a lot of will power and luck in finding the right circumstance. Companies do vary greatly. I recommend small companies. You only need to impress and get along with a few people. The HR department might be the owner and the receptionist. They can't afford batteries of personality tests.

That is the best I can do. Employers do emphasize multitasking and personality a lot more then when we were young adults. Many jobs do need those spectrum unfriendly skills these days. I don't envy you. It's tough. You can't discourage them so much they won't even try but you can't lie or sugarcoat it either.