Top 5 Tips for a Successful Job Interview with Autism
From someone with Autism…
And a great job!
Maybe you are trying to land your first job interview. Or maybe you’ve been on millions with no luck. You could be trying to move up the corporate ladder. One way or another, job interviews can have even a seasoned professional feeling like a rookie in a heartbeat. And when you are on the spectrum, anxiety can find a way of creeping in and taking up residence without paying rent. Here are 5 tips for a successful job interview if you are on the spectrum.
Passion and Dedication: Express your passion for Pokemon as a way to illustrate your dedication and commitment. This could show potential employers that you bring enthusiasm and dedication to your interests, which could carry over into your work.
Community Engagement: If you've been involved in communities centered around your special interest, mention how you've participated in forums, events, or tournaments. This demonstrates your ability to engage with communities, which could be valuable in roles requiring interpersonal skills.
Communication Skills: Describe how you've explained complex concepts about your interest to others, demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively and make information accessible to a broader audience.
An Example of How to Turn a Love of Pokemon into a Marketable Skill
While knowing everything about Pokemon might not be directly applicable to many job positions, the skills and qualities you develop through this knowledge could potentially be valuable in certain contexts. Here are some ways you could frame your Pokemon expertise to highlight relevant skills during a job interview:
Attention to Detail: Mention how your hobbies require attention to detail, as there are numerous categories, stats, and classifications that you can quickly memorize. This could translate into a meticulous approach to tasks in a professional setting.
Memory and Learning Capacity: Explain how you've memorized details about hundreds of aspects of your hobby, showcasing your memory and learning capacity. This could demonstrate your ability to quickly grasp and retain information relevant to your job.
Problem-Solving: Discuss how your special interest (in this example, Pokemon) involves strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving. These skills are transferable to many professional settings where critical thinking and decision-making are essential.
Interview for a job you feel passionate about.
Sometimes a special interest can be your superpower when it comes to beating out the other job applicants.
Do you adore WWI trivia? Do you know everything there is to know about cats? Or Pokemon? If there is a way to connect a special interest with a job or career, then that passion is sure to shine through in a job interview. But let’s say the connection isn’t so easy to find?
Remember to tailor your responses based on the specific job and industry you're interviewing for. The key is to showcase how the skills developed through your special interest can be applied in a professional context.
2. Decide ahead of time if you will disclose your Autism.
This is YOUR decision.
However, it doesn’t need to be made on the spur of the moment or under pressure. There is no right or wrong answer here. Are you required to share that you have Autism? Absolutely not.
Sharing your Autism, however, means that you are openly saying that your brain works differently and that can be a huge benefit to your employer if you capitalize on how your unique traits would be a good fit for the job.
3. Know that everyone feels nervous in a job interview.
It’s NOT just You!
And while you may not be able to stop the feeling of anxiety, there is some comfort in knowing that this is something that you are not alone in feeling. Assuming that you already have your own calming techniques and routines, another bit of advice is to prepare visual aids, such as a list of key points or questions you want to remember during the interview. Having a visual reference can help keep you on track and alleviate anxiety about forgetting important details.
4. Focus on your strengths.
You Are awesome.
Focusing on your strengths is more than just something you do during an interview; you should be doing it BEFORE the interview ever begins! When those moments of self-doubt start rearing their ugly head, that’s when you should be listing off your accomplishments and reminding yourself of all that you have overcome in your life.
If this is hard, pretend like you are talking someone else instead of yourself. It’s easier for some of us to be a cheerleader for someone else and not realize that we deserve the same pep talk ourselves.
Finally, remember that this job interview is a two-way street. The employer is checking to see if you are a good fit, but you are also checking to see if the employer is a good fit. Don’t sell yourself short. You are not powerless at the table. The employer needs a good employee to stay in business. That person could be you!
5. Practice your answers for the most frequently asked questions.
Many questions in an interview follow a pattern and you can use this to your benefit
Practice your responses to common questions, either with a friend, family member, or in front of a mirror. This can help you feel more comfortable with the interview format.
Another important step towards feeling more prepared is to research the company, the role, and common interview questions specific to the position you are hiring for. The more you know, the more confident you'll feel.