When we think of adults who are neurodivergent, we often have a very fixed idea of what this looks like and the unique challenges they face, especially when it comes to the workplace. It can be a challenge for neurodivergent adults to access the workplace at all, let alone thrive. Employers hear things like autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or anxiety and assume that they will need more than the employer can provide or that it may cause problems later. This assumption, combined with other factors, means that many adults struggle to be gainfully employed and are at risk of being underemployed when they are employed at all.
The term neurodivergent was coined in 2000 by Kassiane Asaumasu and while we may think of severe cases, neurodivergent simply means that one process information in a way that differs from those of so-called ‘neurotypicals’. For example, many autistic adults process information bottom-up (they see the pieces before the finished product) as opposed to those who are top-down thinkers (they see the finished product and then build towards that). Neurodivergences include the things we often think of such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, but can also cover dyscalculia, bipolar, anxiety, depression and PTSD. It’s estimated that roughly 1 in 5 adults are neurodivergent, but since accessing a diagnosis can be difficult for many adults, the number may well be higher.
Job Seeking as a Neurodivergent Adult
Adults who are neurodivergent have a harder time obtaining employment and even when they do manage it, they can struggle to maintain it for the long-term. They often struggle with burn-out at higher rates, difficulties getting along with co-workers and management teams, difficulty finishing tasks in an appropriate time, and other challenges.
Hiring managers and employers are slowly coming around to understanding how to work with neurodivergent adults (with some myth busting along the way), but there are still a majority who feel uncomfortable with it and are willing or unable to provide reasonable accommodations (even when it’s the law), so they simply don’t hire those who are openly or obviously neurodivergent. And even when adults can mask enough to pass as neurotypical, employment can be a struggle, usually because of exhaustion and burn-out.
There are plenty of challenges which neurodivergent job seekers have, which include:
- Literal thinking which can make vague questions a challenge
- Difficulty maintaining eye contact and managing/reading body language. Interviewees can come off as disinterested or rude as a result.
- Stimming behaviours which can be seen as distracting.
- The interviewee/employee feels shame in asking for reasonable accommodation.
- Many neurodivergent adults need extra time to answer questions or need to be ‘front-loaded’ to prepare, but many interviewers go with the flow and can catch people off guard.
Although many neurodivergent adults have unique challenges, they still want to work, have some great things to offer employers and they do want to be productive and give back to the broader community. They simply need extra support and reasonable accommodation in order to thrive.
So How Can a Neurodivergent Adult Have a More Successful Job Search?
We cannot control what employers are doing, but we can make ourselves as successful as possible. And really, some of these are god things for anyone to do!
First of all, do your homework. Filter out any companies that seem like they will be less than supportive of how you work. This of course includes companies that are openly problematic, but also roles that simply won’t fit your needs. If you cannot work full time or evenings, then don’t apply for jobs that require it!
Create a targeted resume. For many neurodivergent people, a functional or functional/chronological hybrid may be the best bet as it’s easier to leave out gaps in employment due to poor health, mental health breaks, returning to school, volunteer work, family demands, etc. A functional resume also allows you to really highlight your skills and abilities rather than focusing on your job history. Again though, it’s important to choose a resume style that best suits you.
You can research the most common interview questions and then script and practice your answers to make sure they sound more genuine. You should also work with someone you trust to polish your resume and practice your interview skills.
Interviewing
Interviews are challenging for everybody, but for people who are neurodivergent, they can be particularly challenging. This is because of the nature of interviews. They:
- Are Judgmental
- Require quick thinking and the ability to pivot
- Require body language fluency (made worse when they are remote)
- Require steady eye contact
- Require staying focused
- Can be sensory overwhelming
But there’s nothing wrong with scripting and rehearsing answers. You can also ask for more time to think of a good answer in an interview. After all, any good employer is going to prefer a thoughtful answer to a slapdash one! And don’t forget to use any calming rituals before your interview and anything for self-care afterwards.
Should I Say Something?
Disclosing a neurodivergence is a very personal thing and it can be quite stressful. When should you do it? Should you do it at all? Will disclosing cause the hiring manager to ‘ghost’ you? Do they have a preconceived notion of what a neurodivergent adult looks like and how they behave which could taint the process?
First of all, you never have to disclose. Legally speaking, employers cannot ask about your medical history unless you have something that is so obvious it would be impossible to miss. And if you do choose to disclose, you can choose your time.
Some people do it as part of their interview and hedge it as a strength. For example, you might talk about how your autistic brain is really good at patterns. Others prefer to wait until they actually have the job offer so that they cannot get ghosted. And some even disclose before the interview so that they can ask for accommodation like lighting!
In other words, the answer to this question is as diverse as the people who are answering it. Remember: if you’ve met one neurodivergent person, you’ve met one neurodivergent person.
Job search and interviews are challenging at the best of times, but for people in the neurodivergent community, they can be even harder. Trying to stitch together a resume that may have gaps, a challenging interview process, and figuring when (and if) to disclose all add additional layers of stress. But remember that you also have some great skills which many employers would be happy to have and that reasonable accommodations can be small things.
Good luck!
