How To Get A Job Advice

[FayetheAspie]

I'm looking for advice about how to get employment (preferably working in an introductory lab technician position). Sometimes being upfront about autism seems to make people more accepting, but other times it seems to make people automatically dismiss you as even being a fully functioning human. Then having the ability to mask accurately is a dilemma in itself. People say you need to mask, but it seems like efforts to mask just make me come off even more odd when I try to practice in front of a mirror (like the hiring manager would probably still notice that I was a bit "off" but additionally mistake my behavior as some kind of flirting attempt (perhaps even a bit stalkerish looking at times)or something.

 

[Masked Man]

I think it depends on what sort of lab you're looking to work in. At the medical center I am employed with, our lab techs have to have a minimum of an Associates degree and I think they may need to have a certificate as well but I'm not sure about that.

 

[Judge]

I would implore you to keep it on a "need-to-know" basis only. Otherwise you are exposing yourself to potential prejudice and ignorance you don't need at this point in your life, just to "get your foot in the door" of a perspective employer.

Best to worry about people accepting you as you are AFTER you get the job, and not before it.

Otherwise you risk putting all your hopes and dreams into the assessment of one person, who may not be so sympathetic to applicants being "different" in a way that they may well not understand in whole or in part.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Good advice from @Judge

I can "out myself" because I have 40 years' work experience, I am a leader, I am an educator, and I tend to intimidate people simply with my presence.

As a new person who hasn't earned the respect of the team and management, I would simply keep it quiet for a while.

 

[Rodafina]

I wonder if you can land in the gray area here - don't disclose up front, but don't mask too much, either. I think there is room for us to be our authentic selves without having to announce to every soul in earshot that we are autistic. Masking can be capped at being professional.

 

[Masked Man]

On the autism note, I agree I would not disclose unless it's a situation where you need special accommodations in order to perform your job. Otherwise it's none of their business.

 

[FayetheAspie]

It's just frustrating because I don't know how them not knowing will help due to the fact that people automatically know something is off. Back at my retail job, I had not even been evaluated yet to disclose it and people could automatically tell that I was a bit "off". They would accuse me of being crazy and even dangerous even though I was just trying to do my job and help others when they needed it. I don't know how to seem "normal".

 

[FayetheAspie]

It seems like one time I'm in trouble for avoiding eye contact but then if I don't I'm in trouble for staring someone down. If you move around people think you're doing drugs but if you make yourself stay still then you're considered stiff formal and standoffish. If I get an involuntary grin or bust out laughing I need an excuse for what I "find funny" when I don't necessary find anything funny at the moment. If I talk low I need to speak up but if I raise my voice I'm yelling. I don't know how to pass as normal.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Supposedly level 1 individuals are supposed to be good at masking, but how. Trying just makes me seem even weirder.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I would implore you to keep it on a "need-to-know" basis only. Otherwise you are exposing yourself to potential prejudice and ignorance you don't need at this point in your life, just to "get your foot in the door" of a perspective employer.

Best to worry about people accepting you as you are AFTER you get the job, and not before it.

Otherwise you risk putting all your hopes and dreams into the assessment of one person, who may not be so sympathetic to applicants being "different" in a way that they may well not understand in whole or in part.

How is it possible for them to not know I'm different regardless of whether I mention autism or not?

 

[Judge]

How is it possible for them to not know I'm different regardless of whether I mention autism or not?

For starters that's simply asking the wrong question. It's a job interview. Not a psychological evaluation. Whether you are "different" may likely be irrelevant to their hiring requirements, apart from discussing certain issues which may or may not put their business liability at risk. You don't want to go there, because they don't want to go there. Understood ?

You have a logical and mathematical mind. So consider the ratio of NTs to NDs. That an overwhelming number of them likely has never had any contact with neurodiverse persons, or has any incentive to learn or understand them. (I think the CDC has revised this ratio to 1 in 36.)

Such odds inherently favor their ignorance and even more, their indifference. Neither of which will work for you if you expose your autism in such an interview. Not to mention it could be interpreted as a plea for special consideration that an interviewer/employer may not appreciate.

A competitive job interview is anything but an act of charity. It's a screening process where if you don't fit their mold in some particular way, they'll likely put your application on the bottom of the stack, or simply dump it in a wastebasket. The last thing you want to do is to throw something in the mix to diminish your chances of being hired. You simply want to present yourself as the best possible candidate- not one with special needs, excuses and exceptions. It's all about what they want- not what you want. That they owe us nothing.

Yes this sounds harsh, but you are entering a highly competitive field where you need to shine as a prospective employee. Trying to sell them on your autistic traits and behaviors could spell disaster. All compounded by a new administration intent on abolishing all forms of diversity, equity and inclusion in public sector workplaces. That alone should be incentive for you to keep your autism a secret in the American workplace at this particular time.

So think of more positive things, such as thoughtful questions to answer, and to project a certain enthusiasm about the job. It also helps to "underwrite" a prospective employer. Do some research to find out about them to ask those intelligent questions others may not even think of.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Supposedly level 1 individuals are supposed to be good at masking, but how. Trying just makes me seem even weirder.

Depends upon what you mean by "good at masking". This is highly individualized. Many studies have suggested and shown evidence that the "typical" female autistic is much better at masking their autism than the males. The irony is that female autistics typically have a significantly higher "genetic load" of autism markers than males, which suggests two things; (1) that females tend to be very good at masking, overall, especially given the higher genetic loading and (2) conversely, males are generally not good at masking, especially given the lower genetic loading.

 

[Dagan]

I'm afraid that a certain "know-it-all" type in US Congress is trying to make Autistics a "questionable" people, so for that reason alone, you probably want to not say it outright on your resume' (being that is also your very first impression to any employer). I do think it will spill over into other countries a little bit, as well, sadly. I hope not, but we've seen it, so be mindful of it just the same.

What does work, though... List every absolute positive that you as an Autistic person have. I guarantee you will end up with professional sounding items and qualities to then reword and present as bullet points on your resume' ...and that is exactly what they're looking for.

"I take pride in, and execution of, thorough attention to detail" for example: that's a major plus because every lab environment is also very much a safety environment and requires constant precision.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

How is it possible for them to not know I'm different regardless of whether I mention autism or not?

If they are NOT noticing you are "different", then fine. You're a lot better at masking than you give yourself credit for.

Otherwise, most people will almost immediately sense "something is off".

Even if you "out yourself" as autistic, most folks wouldn't know what to do with that. "I've heard of autism, but I don't know what that means." Then, there are a surprising amount of people that see "level 1" autism as simply a label and toss that diagnosis away. "Everyone's got a condition." "Everyone's a little autistic." People will be very quick to minimize your experience and still treat you as neurotypical. People are much quicker to label people with personality traits or stick people with a "moral diagnosis". Autism NEVER enters their mind to put things into proper perspective. This much has been true of my personal experience with this.

 

[FayetheAspie]

I never planned to put it on the resume. and I don't think people should be favored for a job because of a condition. A person does need to know how to do the job (especially certain types of jobs). There are many lines of work I know I have no business being in at all. I just don't know how to respond when I notice that a person is noticing that my mannerisms, facial expressions ect. are "off." Sometimes a person will approach me friendly like and say something and I will respond friendly back but they will suddenly get all nervous, look like I slapped them or something, and then make a point to avoid me.

Depends upon what you mean by "good at masking". This is highly individualized. Many studies have suggested and shown evidence that the "typical" female autistic is much better at masking their autism than the males. The irony is that female autistics typically have a significantly higher "genetic load" of autism markers than males, which suggests two things; (1) that females tend to be very good at masking, overall, especially given the higher genetic loading and (2) conversely, males are generally not good at masking, especially given the lower genetic loading.

Seeing as how I am female, those statistics never made much sense to me either. If I am such a master of masking why can practically everyone I meet detect that something is different within 2 minutes or less of meeting me? Of course, it can be hard to know where autism stops and suspected cPTSD starts. Also, all the social isolation because my dad is so panicked to let my Mama and I have people we talk to. Then you have the fact that I fell on my head when little and it got slammed into the corner of a cabinet later. So a guess those other things could have an impact as well.

 

[Judge]

I just don't know how to respond when I notice that a person is noticing that my mannerisms, facial expressions ect. are "off."

That's when it pays to rehearse what you want to say to an interviewer. And above all to consider it a "script" of sorts, and to stick to that script like glue. No matter how the interviewer may look or make you feel self-conscious. You cannot necessarily hide how you look, but you certainly have the ability to control what you say. To limit it solely to the issue at hand- a job, and the skills you possess to get it done on a regular basis.

Most of us have all been there before. And no, it's never easy. Though the more interviews you get through, the more experience you gain in understanding what to do versus what not to do.

It's a process that you cannot go into with the notion of getting the first job you interview for. To be prepared to repeat the process as many times as it takes before finally landing that job.

One other thing to ponder. The legal nature of any job interview. That whatever you claim about yourself if likely to be followed up. And if not substantiated, can potentially result in termination. So before you ever confide to anyone formally interviewing you, know that you'd better have formal medical records in your immediate possession to back it all up. Otherwise it might amount to fraud in the eyes of a potential employer when it comes to formal accommodations.

As for putting your autism on any resume, I'd see that as a form of "occupational suicide". Putting it in writing would surely draw ire to any prospective employer not looking for it to begin with.

In my years working at one corporate employer, I saw as many as a half-dozen employees fired on the spot (for cause) when what they claimed in their initial job interview turned out to be untrue. Persons who just assumed no one would actually do the follow-up required. They were wrong.

Keep in mind while we discuss such things in this forum, that it remains an international forum. Where other members may offer a very different perspective given their nation and culture may well handle issues like autism in a much more favorable light than our own.