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pineapple
Deinonychus
Joined: May 01, 2006
Age: 24
Posts: 373
Location: san francisco
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 Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:23 pm Post subject: Disclose your AS: Yay or nay? |
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Sorry in advance if this has been discussed a lot before.
But...do you talk about your AS/autism on job applications?
(If it helps, I've been officially diagnosed with Nonverbal learning disorder and not AS-- to the best of my knowledge, NLD is very much like AS, except even fewer people have heard of it-- yahoo-- but that's not really the point)
I have a good resume and I write really good cover letters (what can I say, I'm a writer) but no matter how much I prepare for interviews, I do badly. I feel like I need to explain this somehow. But, the last thing I need is to give people one more reason why they shouldn't hire me. I'm at my wit's end.
Has anyone mentioned their AS upfront? What happened?
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malithion2
Sea Gull
Joined: Jun 16, 2008
Age: 21
Posts: 207
Location: Albuquerque, NM
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:42 am Post subject: |
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Nope, not even for Jury duty.
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Tim_Tex
WP's Resident Simpsons and South Park Aficionado
Joined: Jul 03, 2004
Age: 28
Posts: 20883
Location: Central Texas
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 2:53 am Post subject: |
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I have never done it.
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ironangel
Toucan
Joined: Jul 06, 2008
Age: 29
Posts: 289
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:49 am Post subject: |
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directly
why should I?
but i joke a lot
and they perceived it not as a joke 
all my co-workers are aware of Autism and Asperger  |
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Sublyme
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Apr 24, 2008
Age: 27
Posts: 191
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 10:07 am Post subject: |
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Nope. The only thing my job applications asked was if I had a disability that require special accomodations. Well I don't consider myself disabled at all so I put "no."
Sometimes I think it would be easier to disclose it. I could give my boss a reason for me not being able to understand verbal instructions, my constant pen clicking, my issues with my being disrespectful and unfriendly, and most importantly my meltdowns and shutdowns. But really I don't want it to restrict my opportunities. I have a feeling I would stop getting promotions, and possible be a candidate for a lay-off the next time we have a round of them. I think the best thing is to not disclose it.
I had a coworker yesterday approach me and ask why I don't say good morning or even look at people when they say good morning to me, or address me in the hall. I just told her I was an alien I wasn't familiar with the humans species customs yet. And here she thought I was just being rude. |
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t0
Deinonychus
Joined: Mar 24, 2008
Posts: 374
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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| pineapple wrote: | But...do you talk about your AS/autism on job applications?
...
I have a good resume and I write really good cover letters (what can I say, I'm a writer) but no matter how much I prepare for interviews, I do badly. I feel like I need to explain this somehow. |
When you go to interviews do they typically ask you about your weaknesses? I would list verbal communication as a weakness - and try to give them details. Things like not picking up non-verbal cues, or doing better with written instructions, etc. I think it's better to describe it without giving it a name - especially if you can tell them the ways in which you do better.
| Sublyme wrote: | | I had a coworker yesterday approach me and ask why I don't say good morning or even look at people when they say good morning to me, or address me in the hall. I just told her I was an alien I wasn't familiar with the humans species customs yet. And here she thought I was just being rude. |
Was that intended as a joke? If not, I'll presume it's a lie. Most people think being lied to is rude. |
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Sublyme
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Apr 24, 2008
Age: 27
Posts: 191
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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That was my attempt as a joke to her being rude and asking me why I didn't say good morning to her, which I see as rude. I didn't want to tell her "I have this thing called autism, and sometimes I don't pick up on stuff like that." So I decided to try to be funny instead. I doubt she took it literally.
I followed it up with "I guess I just have stuff on my mind, and was distracted." She said "well you must get distracted a lot then." |
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Greentea
Bull in China Shop par Excellence!
Joined: Jun 15, 2007
Posts: 2226
Location: Middle East
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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I've started mentioning the non-verbal limitations, but not in interviews and not with a name.
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MysteryFan3
Ex-COBOL dinosaur. roar.
Joined: Jun 09, 2007
Age: 51
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Location: Indiana
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Sublyme wrote: | | I had a coworker yesterday approach me and ask why I don't say good morning or even look at people when they say good morning to me, or address me in the hall. I just told her I was an alien I wasn't familiar with the humans species customs yet. And here she thought I was just being rude. |
Hee hee. I love it.
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Fnord
Metasyntactic Variable
Joined: May 07, 2008
Posts: 2372
Location: Pantopia
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: Disclose your AS: Yay or nay? |
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| pineapple wrote: | | ...do you talk about your AS/autism on job applications? |
No.
I don't want to lose my job because some ignoramus thinks that being an Aspie is only a half-step away from being a sociopath, schizophrenic, or sexual deviant, and holds fears for their safety.
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a. Science is the vast graveyard into which all irrational beliefs are eventually laid to rest.
b. Faith is irrational belief in improvable concepts.
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Greentea
Bull in China Shop par Excellence!
Joined: Jun 15, 2007
Posts: 2226
Location: Middle East
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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pineapple, you were diagnosed with NLD. How is that different from Asperger's? I ask because I fit the NLD description to a T, but the AS one too...
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"It is the wounded oyster that mends its shell with pearl" - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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infinite9
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jul 08, 2008
Posts: 30
Location: Chicagoland
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Disclose your AS: Yay or nay? |
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| pineapple wrote: | Sorry in advance if this has been discussed a lot before.
But...do you talk about your AS/autism on job applications?
(If it helps, I've been officially diagnosed with Nonverbal learning disorder and not AS-- to the best of my knowledge, NLD is very much like AS, except even fewer people have heard of it-- yahoo-- but that's not really the point)
I have a good resume and I write really good cover letters (what can I say, I'm a writer) but no matter how much I prepare for interviews, I do badly. I feel like I need to explain this somehow. But, the last thing I need is to give people one more reason why they shouldn't hire me. I'm at my wit's end.
Has anyone mentioned their AS upfront? What happened? |
I wouldn't disclose it. I've gotten good at interviewing these days. But I think if I still had a problem with it, I would make a joke near the beginning about how badly I interview. "Please don't hurt me, I suck at this." If you manage their expectations ahead of time, they might be more willing to let it slide.
The best thing to do though is to practice and practice and practice, maybe with a friend, so that you get comfortable automatically responding to all the normal questions.
Here are things I always do in interviews:
1. when you meet, firm handshake, smile, and look in the eyes. I know it's painful, but the eye contact is usually brief for this one.
2. Either make a joke or immediately bring up one of your three pre-planned small talk subjects. If they don't like the first one, switch to another one.
3. When they say, "So, tell me about yourself..." You should have done some research up front to see what they do. If they use certain tools or software or machines or something, have a couple sentences about each one preplanned and memorized. Each sentence should talk about things you've done in the past and how they relate to this exact thing the interviewing company does. This should be a 2-4 minute speech.
4. Try to have preplanned answers to everything. Be able to explain anything weird on your resume including gaps.
5. Near the end of the interview, when they ask if you have any question, ask two pre-planned questions about what they do. "How are you using bla-bla? How did you get around this problem?" Make them open-ended questions so that the interviewer to say more than yes or no. This will give you a break.
6. At the end, I always ask if there are any concerns that they have about my skills or experience. This allows me to address them now while i still have the chance.
7. repeat 1 and 2 on the way out.
brian |
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Buttersboy142
Butterfly
Joined: Jul 17, 2007
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject: Re: Disclose your AS: Yay or nay? |
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| Fnord wrote: | | pineapple wrote: | | ...do you talk about your AS/autism on job applications? |
No.
I don't want to lose my job because some ignoramus thinks that being an Aspie is only a half-step away from being a sociopath, schizophrenic, or sexual deviant, and holds fears for their safety. |
Haha! That made me laugh out loud  |
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Fnord
Metasyntactic Variable
Joined: May 07, 2008
Posts: 2372
Location: Pantopia
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject: Re: Disclose your AS: Yay or nay? |
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| Buttersboy142 wrote: | | Fnord wrote: | | pineapple wrote: | | ...do you talk about your AS/autism on job applications? |
No.
I don't want to lose my job because some ignoramus thinks that being an Aspie is only a half-step away from being a sociopath, schizophrenic, or sexual deviant, and holds fears for their safety. |
Haha! That made me laugh out loud |
If only it were a joke. I have friends who have "come out" about having bipolar disorders to their co-workers, and then found themselves mysteriously "downsized" within a short time, and there was nothing they could do about it.
_________________
a. Science is the vast graveyard into which all irrational beliefs are eventually laid to rest.
b. Faith is irrational belief in improvable concepts.
:: Science buries Faith. |
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t0
Deinonychus
Joined: Mar 24, 2008
Posts: 374
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| Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: Disclose your AS: Yay or nay? |
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| infinite9 wrote: | | 5. Near the end of the interview, when they ask if you have any question, ask two pre-planned questions about what they do. "How are you using bla-bla? How did you get around this problem?" Make them open-ended questions so that the interviewer to say more than yes or no. This will give you a break. |
If you're interested in the job, you should be asking them questions about the workspace conditions (especially if you have sensory issues). If it's an office, will you be sitting in a cube, a shared office, etc? If it's not a static schedule, how often does it change? |
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