| How can an individual on the autism spectrum feel | | | | prospective employees. One has a Computing Degree |
| empowered to improve her/his prospects of | | | | and a Doctorate while the other is only in their third |
| employment? | | | | year of a computing degree part time. Now assume |
| I am once again indebted to Mr. Gavin Bollard, author | | | | that the job is a helpdesk role. |
| of the blog called Life With Aspergers. With his | | | | It's almost guaranteed that the person doing their |
| permission, I am including this second article on | | | | degree part-time will get the job. The more "qualified" |
| improving employment prospects for individuals on | | | | person will be tagged as "over-qualified". Even worse, |
| the autism spectrum. | | | | employment agencies will often decide that the |
| About Gavin Bollard: | | | | over-qualified person has other issues if they don't |
| My main interests are Cinema, Computing and | | | | have a lot of experience. They may decide for |
| spending time with my family. I am married and have | | | | instance that the person must be difficult to work |
| two boys (born in Sept 2000 and 2003). I've been | | | | with. They'll try to find a reason why they're not |
| with Notes/Domino since R3 and have been working | | | | already employed in a good job - and if they find |
| (and playing) with Intel PCs since about 1986. Prior to | | | | none, they'll make one up for themselves. |
| that I was into the various 16K micros. | | | | The other thing to be aware of is that people don't |
| In part one of this series, I "lamented" the lack of | | | | like to employ people who they think may be |
| services aimed at helping adults with aspergers find | | | | smarter than themselves. If you're better qualified |
| financial independence. There are plenty of services | | | | than your prospective supervisor, then there's a |
| available to help children on the spectrum at school. | | | | pretty good chance that you won't get employed - |
| Indeed neurotypical society tends to be quite | | | | or that the supervisor will make your life at work hell. |
| tolerant of children with differences. Unfortunately | | | | The other half of my rule says that you can change |
| society seems to have forgotten that children | | | | degrees once. That's because most people don't |
| eventually grow up and that adults on the spectrum | | | | know exactly what they want to do when they |
| still need help. | | | | start their degree. It's accepted that you'll probably |
| I ended my post with a couple of vague lists, one | | | | want to change once you figure this out. Changing |
| talking about what aspies can do to improve their job | | | | several times though doesn't indicate that you're still |
| prospects and another dealing with how society can | | | | thinking. It suggests that you're confused. |
| improve the situation. In this post, I want to look at | | | | If you're really confused, then it's time to get a job |
| what aspies can do. | | | | and worry about education later. |
| Beware of Fake Jobs | | | | Further Education |
| Before I get into the lists from my last post, I just | | | | I'm not ruling out further education. You can still get |
| want to talk about a nasty employment problem that | | | | your doctorate if you want. That's ok. Aspies are |
| I've encountered on several occasions. | | | | capable of just about anything. I guess that I'm |
| The phrase; "it's not what you know, it's who you | | | | saying "just get some work experience behind you |
| know" sums it up nicely. | | | | first". Even better, try to stay employed and do |
| It's a sad fact of life that aspies with their limited | | | | further qualifications part-time. That way, you don't |
| social skills and fewer friends (compared to NTs) will | | | | leave any gaps in your resume. |
| often find themselves passed-over in job | | | | Limit Your Expectations |
| opportunities by people who either have a more | | | | Most people go to work to earn money. They don't |
| engaging personality or who simply know one or | | | | necessarily enjoy it. |
| more people who are in positions of power at the | | | | When I first started in computing, I assumed that |
| place you're seeking employment. | | | | the entire computing department went home on |
| In fact, you'll find that many advertised jobs don't | | | | weekends and did development in their own time like |
| really exist at all. Some are just job agencies "fishing" | | | | I did. I didn't think that maybe they wanted to spend |
| for people to put on their books but others are much | | | | time with their families. |
| much worse. A lot of interviews are simply | | | | My conversations with them were all about |
| "box-ticking" exercises so that management can | | | | computers. I was stunned to find that several of |
| pretend that proper employment procedure has been | | | | them didn't even have computers at home. It took a |
| followed before they give a job to someone they | | | | long time for me to get my expectations down to a |
| already know. | | | | manageable level and by the time I had, I'd insulted |
| It's happened to me several times in my career. A | | | | most of the team without realising it. |
| position directly in my area of responsibility becomes | | | | The other thing to watch out for is the fact that |
| available and a new CEO who doesn't know me | | | | because your work and hobbies can sometimes be |
| particularly well contacts a friend, to offer them a | | | | inseparable, you'll naturally get better and better at |
| position they haven't even interviewed for. A series | | | | your job. Eventually you'll pass your supervisor's level |
| of fake interviews is then arranged and "surprise", | | | | of expertise. When this happens, they usually won't |
| the new person gets the job. | | | | be proud of you, they still won't appreciate |
| It's a painful experience which if you understand | | | | contradictions and corrections and they'll probably be |
| what has happened will make you feel under | | | | more than a little jealous. |
| appreciated and "used". Of course, most of the time | | | | In one of my jobs, I slowly took the manuals home |
| (if you're seeking a new job, not a promotion), you | | | | to read (there were about 36 of them) for the AS |
| won't even know what has happened. In those | | | | 400 system. I went from not knowing what an AS |
| cases, it's simply a big blow to your self esteem. | | | | 400 was to feeling very confident with them. I |
| You need to recognize that this is very common | | | | expected my colleagues to be happy about this but |
| behavior. Quite often, your failure to secure a job | | | | one of my work-mates stopped talking to me. I'd |
| won't be your fault at all. It will simply be that there | | | | made him feel insecure. |
| was no job available. Don't blame yourself for these | | | | Be very careful about your assumptions and |
| failures if you've given it your best shot. You | | | | expectations. Not everyone is the same as you. |
| shouldn't take an esteem hit from shady | | | | Other people have different things which are |
| management. Of course, that's much easier said than | | | | important in life. They don't like being corrected and |
| done. | | | | they don't like to feel threatened. |
| Limit Your Education | | | | Be Less Picky About Your Initial Jobs |
| This was always bound to be a controversial topic, | | | | It's common to leave school or university with a |
| so I apologise in advance for everyone who may be | | | | whole heap of great plans only to be turned down at |
| offended. | | | | job after job after job because of lack of |
| It's often assumed by people (aspies in particular) | | | | experience. Sure, there are jobs out there which |
| that good grades and higher levels of education | | | | don't require experience but they're low-level and |
| guarantee good jobs. Nothing could be further from | | | | menial. They're below your interest and you obviously |
| the truth. | | | | don't want to do them. |
| Aspies need to learn that higher levels of education | | | | Unfortunately we all have to start somewhere. You |
| do NOT guarantee good jobs. In fact, they can often | | | | wouldn't be the first person to take a job well below |
| significantly reduce your chances of being employed. | | | | your mental capacity and to know much more than |
| Here's my recommended education rule. It's an aspie | | | | your supervisor. It might surprise to know that this |
| rule and not one that I'd want to see implemented | | | | situation almost never changes. It doesn't matter |
| by any organisation. I'd just like individuals to take it | | | | how high you rise in a company (unless you make it |
| onboard for their own benefit. | | | | to CEO) there's always going to be someone above |
| You're allowed ONE degree only before you have to | | | | you - and they're almost always going to be less |
| get a job. If possible you should do your degree | | | | talented or have less vision. |
| part-time. You're allowed to change your degree | | | | There's not much you can do about this. Just start |
| part-way through ONCE. | | | | low and try to gain a lot of experience. If you've got |
| That's it. Simple. Now I'll explain my "stupid rule". | | | | talent, you should be able to find some time to do |
| When you start work, it customary to start at the | | | | things which interest you and which don't get you |
| bottom regardless of your level of education. I don't | | | | into too much trouble. |
| mean that a fledgling IT person has to start in the | | | | In my first computing job, while I was supposed to |
| mail room but I do mean that you'll probably start | | | | be babysitting a room-sized "mini-computer", I was |
| somewhere below the normal level of operations, for | | | | also doing quite a bit of PC development. My boss |
| example in testing or in first level support. | | | | was less than impressed but so long as I did what I |
| Employers like to pay low-level employees minimum | | | | was supposed to do, he let me continue. Eventually, |
| wages. This usually isn't possible if they have higher | | | | as my applications began to have obvious positive |
| level qualifications hence employers may look for | | | | effects on the business, he loosened the reigns and |
| people without them. | | | | allowed me to follow my natural urges. |
| Assuming for instance that you have two | | | | |