Why can't I get a job as a disabled 42 year old Aspie in the UK?

[Judge]

I think it's worth emphasizing to any prospective employer your own uptake over your work experiences.

To point out that while these positions were all voluntary in nature, that your job duties and responsibilities were basically comparable to that of paid positions. In other words, don't assume they are thinking this. Put the notion into their heads in real time during an interview. Be proactive about yourself. Tell them about minding the till and seeing after customer's questions and comments. And if you have product knowledge, throw that into the mix as well.

Whatever it may take to reduce whatever concern or prejudice they may have when it comes to a CV entirely consisting of voluntary labor. Make them feel more comfortable with it whether they bring it up with you or not. Just be positive about it. Discuss it like an asset rather than allow them to ponder it as a liability.

 

[Quart]

For instance, I don't know this fella, but his posts radiate impotent aggression.

Why would a disabled man want to work in nursing, for example? You have to realise that for some jobs you would simply be unsuitable. The other point is they may have information on him for previous behaviour - for example, if he was rude to customers then that would have a bearing.

Otherwise, it's really about how you present yourself. The picture does you no favours. Have you got problems being alert? You need to be alert - much of it is clean living, being able to hold down a reasonable existence, that sort of thing. @Gracey has the right idea. It's really about providing a good public face. If he can't do that, then it's no good.

Mentioning having an ASD for a public facing role like a large supermarket effectively rules you out in a lot of cases. Can you bear the environment when you go in to shop?

 

[Mary Terry]

You've mentioned in other posts that you have some deafness and wear hearing aids. Have you considered seeking a job where employers actually prefer hiring the hearing impaired? I don't know if it is still true today, but in years past in the US, the US Postal Service favored hiring deaf people to run the mail sorting machines because they are so loud that they can damage normal hearing. Same thing for many factory jobs and even airport jobs where jet engines pose a danger to normal hearing. It's just an idea but may be worth pursuit.

 

[Mary Anne]

One thing I have noticed with Rich over the many months now, is that he does not seem to listen to the helpful advice that others give him. He might be doing the same things over and over, and they are not getting him paid employment. When someone continually spins wheels in unhelpful directions, it serves in,y to wear a person out and ebb away any hard won confidence.

 

[Progster]

Otherwise, it's really about how you present yourself. The picture does you no favours.

Do you mean his profile picture on this forum? I don't think we can judge him on that. It's probably a private photo he has chosen or made for this forum, not necessarily the one he would use for his CV. We don't know him, haven't seen how he presents himself at interviews, so we can't know or make assumptions about this.

 

[Quart]

I could tell you what's wrong with your profile picture, but it honestly looks like an eye condition. They're sunken and sallow. You don't look too good.

This is more concern than attack.

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

I could tell you what's wrong with your profile picture, but it honestly looks like an eye condition. They're sunken and sallow. You don't look too good.

This is more concern than attack.

What does his profile picture have to do with him getting a job?! In the UK it is not expected to include a picture in job applications, and I highly doubt he's going to be directing potential employers to this forum to check him out, so your comments are completely irrelevant and rude.

 

[Quart]

It makes a difference if it's a public-facing role. An employer wants a person that looks well and will be an asset to the firm, not a negative. It's the same way you don't get people that obviously look like strung-out drug addicts on the tills. That's really all it is.

Stuff like this is relevant and matters. If it was private and his disability didn't affect the job, it would be no problem.

 

[Bella Pines]

The volunteer work is awesome and very relevant. If people can't appreciate it, that's their problem not yours.

For my last job I sent off just under 500 applications over a long period of time. It got depressing at one point, but then I started looking at it as a job. As in, my job was looking for a job. So I would go through the motions, send off forms electronically and this was my day. You've got this far, stay the course. Take a break if you need it and then get back on the horse.

 

[owlet]

It makes a difference if it's a public-facing role. An employer wants a person that looks well and will be an asset to the firm, not a negative. It's the same way you don't get people that obviously look like strung-out drug addicts on the tills. That's really all it is.

Stuff like this is relevant and matters. If it was private and his disability didn't affect the job, it would be no problem.

This isn't true, actually. In the UK, law states you're not allowed to judge someone on their physical appearance as it bears no relevance to the role (the exception being something like working as a model). Furthermore, there is a 'quota' for diversity employers need to meet, but they will generally choose people who don't seem to have very severe disabilities so they don't have to make adjustments. There is also a lot of misunderstanding concerning conditions like autism - hence why I never disclose that to a potential employer (I don't have to and it wouldn't enhance my application in any way, aside from if I were looking to get a job in the police, as they were putting out calls for people with ASD to apply a while back).
@Mr Allen might do well, actually, to apply for voluntary positions in charity organisations such as Citizen's Advice, or similar, as they're often more willing to take people on (and have a worthier cause). Plus, office work is a lot less stressful than retail.

So drop the whole profile picture thing. It's irrelevant and frankly boring to hear you carry on about.

 

[Mr Allen]

I could tell you what's wrong with your profile picture, but it honestly looks like an eye condition. They're sunken and sallow. You don't look too good.

This is more concern than attack.

I do have a hereditary eye condition, passed down from my Granddad to my Mother and then me.

 

[AloneNotLonely]

Wow. I thought I was insensitive and blunt.

Quart my man, you have made my day. Compared to you I'm the most sensitive, caring person in the world.

As blunt as he is, he does have a point. I see many of Mr Allen's posts are negative and put him in a position where it's the big evil world that hates him and is out to get him. It's not a healthy position to be in. Presentation and awareness of how you present yourself is very important in the NT world. It's not that they hate the disabled or autistic, it's just how they function.

I have gotten jobs where I was honest about being autistic, but I was presenting myself extremely well. Then it's the simple matter that what you say and what you do on a job interview pretty much determines if you get the job. If you get invited to the interview, you generally made the cut when it comes to demands regarding education and work experience (assuming you don't lie on your CV ). But in the interview there are a zillion ways that you can mess up. Rather than assume that it's "They hate the disabled and autistic and will never hire one of them for that reason and that reason alone" you could analyze how your interview went, what you were wearing, how you were presenting yourself, your body language, maybe there was something you could have worded differently that would give a better impression or perhaps you didn't show enough passion or interest in providing the business with value (this is an issue 99% of people have).

You are not alone in this. There are tons and tons of NT's with no disability that have a lot of trouble finding a job simply because they do not navigate the market well or give off the wrong vibe. Many of them also get trapped in the "It's because they hate me". Employers look for value. They want someone that gives them something. Hiring someone is a huge risk and any possible doubt about your value means you don't get hired.

Attempt to look for what you could improve rather than complaining. I am not saying it's a guaranteed success, but complaining has no chance of achieving something and attempting to improve at least has a chance of getting you a job.

 

[owlet]

I have gotten jobs where I was honest about being autistic, but I was presenting myself extremely well. Then it's the simple matter that what you say and what you do on a job interview pretty much determines if you get the job. If you get invited to the interview, you generally made the cut when it comes to demands regarding education and work experience (assuming you don't lie on your CV ). But in the interview there are a zillion ways that you can mess up. Rather than assume that it's "They hate the disabled and autistic and will never hire one of them for that reason and that reason alone" you could analyze how your interview went, what you were wearing, how you were presenting yourself, your body language, maybe there was something you could have worded differently that would give a better impression or perhaps you didn't show enough passion or interest in providing the business with value (this is an issue 99% of people have).

I agree with this to an extent, but I was told repeatedly that I did extremely well in interviews and tests, but that there was just always someone with more experience - that wasn't something I had any control over (and I had a decent amount of experience, but I'm not very old so have only been able to have so many jobs). There's only so much analysis you can do before it ends up getting to you, so it's important to be self-aware, but also to be aware that not all of it is under your control.

 

[Quart]

I agree with this to an extent, but I was told repeatedly that I did extremely well in interviews and tests, but that there was just always someone with more experience - that wasn't something I had any control over (and I had a decent amount of experience, but I'm not very old so have only been able to have so many jobs). There's only so much analysis you can do before it ends up getting to you, so it's important to be self-aware, but also to be aware that not all of it is under your control.

There might then be other factors at play in your fairly rare scenario.

 

[owlet]

There might then be other factors at play in your fairly rare scenario.

Like what?

 

[Mr Allen]

I think a BIG part of the problem is potential employers are seeing 23 years of voluntary work including placements from College, but no PROPER, REAL work experience.

Meh, it's not my fault that voluntary Charity work has been literally the only work I've ever been able to get apart from College placements.

At least I had the guts to go out and work, for free, all those years, some people wouldn't even get out of bed for less than minimum wage.

 

[Tom]

Dye your hair green and apply at Farm and Garden Centers...
That will be $56.00 in Chilean coin.

 

[Quart]

Like what?

It could be that you made mistakes in the past that blackballed you for the role. It could be that you upset powerful people. It could be that there were better candidates. If you're far-left in a Tory area or right-wing in a strongly Labour area and you're public about it could be a problem or you're a known BNP supporter applying for a police/prison job. If you've been in particularly public porn or you have an embarrassing private life. Most likely problem is that someone doesn't like you.

 

[owlet]

It could be that you made mistakes in the past that blackballed you for the role. It could be that you upset powerful people. It could be that there were better candidates. If you're far-left in a Tory area or right-wing in a strongly Labour area and you're public about it could be a problem or you're a known BNP supporter applying for a police/prison job. If you've been in particularly public porn or you have an embarrassing private life. Most likely problem is that someone doesn't like you.

I haven't done any of those things and make sure to keep my private life and personal views extremely private (all my social media is private and I don't post personal/controversial views on there, because I'm aware potential employers can check). I made the interviewers laugh and they said I asked great questions and gave very good responses. It was just that there were more experienced people applying, as they said.

 

[pamelaperejil]

@Mr Allen:

Have you tried temp agencies? And do you have to reveal that your previous jobs were unpaid? Good luck with that. I just got hired at a temp agency today. I'm hoping it works out better than some of my previous jobs.

Edited to remove irrelevancy