When it comes to employment, people with autism have unique skills and attributes, but often remain overlooked by employers.
It can be difficult to know where to start when applying for a job. If you are a person with autism, the below tips can help you find and keep a job you love.
Preparing for the right job
In order to find meaningful and sustainable employment, it is important for people with autism to discover their strengths and talents. People with autism have unique skills that can benefit a range of industries. People with autism often demonstrate great attention to detail, high work standards and a strong work ethic. While these skills are a great attribute for any job, it is important for people with autism to find a job they enjoy, where they will thrive. Writing out a list of goals and strengths can help identify the right industry for a person with autism to work.
Finding the right job is not always easy, and it can take some time until people with autism find a job they love. Volunteering is a great way to stay busy and active in the community while people with autism are looking for a job. It is also a great opportunity to build skills and experience in the workplace.
Job interviews can be a daunting experience, especially for people with autism. When applying for a job, people with autism can struggle to communicate one-on-one in an interview setting – but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the skills or qualifications for the role.
The below 4 strategies can help people with autism prepare for a job interview:
Role-playing and practice interviews. Going over potential questions and drafting responses can help people with autism feel comfortable and confident going into a job interview. For people with autism, it is important to practice interviews in a situation that is as close as possible to the real interview setting, practising tone of voice, eye contact and facial expressions.
Research the job description and organisation. Being prepared and having a solid understanding of the role and what it entails helps people with autism prepare for a job interview.
Dress for success.Having a clean and professional outfit can help people with autism feel prepared and confident to enter a job interview.
Arrive early and prepared. It can help people with autism to have a plan for how they will arrive at their job interview. Are they taking public transport or will a friend or family member drop them off? Having a solid plan can remove any anxiety experienced by people with autism prior to the job interview.
Businesses are increasingly changing their interview practices to ensure people with autism are enabled to demonstrate their skills and capabilities in a comfortable setting. EPIC regularly works with businesses to adjust the interview process to best play to the strengths of people with autism.
Tattooed Sailor are well aware of the talents people with autism can bring to the workforce.