If you have ASD and are employed - how did you get your job? Any tips for other people with ASD trying to find employment?
Thanks Treppa, I didn't know.
I wouldn't wear it on your sleeve. Lots of people are sort of weird, find out what you're good at and just go after it. Try to get any sort of job if that is what you want and take the problems that come up with it. As for finding a job with mental disability, don't mention it, and don't make excuses. Apply like everyone else and if you don't get the job try to make yourself more employable.
As an Aspie, I’ll give the three suggestions that help me the most in conversations and job interviews:
1. Be concise, not precise: OCD is a common companion for ASD. The need to make sure everything we say is exactly correct can be powerful. Most people don’t need the level of precision that comforts us. Learn to précis down your answers to typical questions to the basic information and little else.
2. Listen: A lot of the time, we tend to talk people down when we get rolling. Or we correct someone when they are speaking. Or...it goes on. Once you have answered a question, listen to the next question or comment and make sure that person understands that you appreciate their point of view and don’t just want to talk about yours. All job interviews should be half and half conversations; one side should never dominate.
3. Fake eye contact: Most neurotypicals interpret lack of eye contact as dishonesty. Staring into the corners of the room or off into space while they are speaking is interpreted as not listening or not interested. Learn to make eye contact every thirty seconds or so and they will feel everything is fine. This one is the easiest of the lot, and has worked wonders for me.
Hope someone finds this helpful.
If I forget to post here tomorrow, blow up my inbox with messages.
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What Kahn Zordlon said is unfortunately true. While in the U.S.A. we have the ADA and other laws to protect people with disabilities in the work place, oftentimes those laws get side-stepped or ignored. Don't lie about your ASD if asked, it's always best to tell the truth, but don't bring it up if you don't have to. Once you have the job, if you need reasonable accommodation ask for it discreetly through HR.
Feros's advice is also good. I'd also recommend if you get an interview to go over some practice questions the day before in the mirror, doing a self-interview. You should be able to find typical practice questions online, such as "Why do you want this job?" and "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" etc. Answer each question until the answer is fluid and concise. It doesn't have to be the same each time, but it should roll off your tongue easily.
Before/during/after the interview phase, it's really important to network with people in your field; if there's a convention, meeting, or social gathering in your area go to it! I know this can be hard/intimidating for people with ASD, but keep in mind that even the most socially-minded people can get nervous meeting new people in big crowds. I don't do this kind of in-person networking often enough myself but some of my best job interviews have come from it. I still don't have a job in the field I've trained in (this is due more to cutbacks in my field than any personal qualities, I think), but my network contacts have been invaluable in getting me to the interview phase.