Advice for people with Asperger syndrome

This section provides useful advice for people with Asperger syndrome applying for jobs and surviving in the workplace.

Should I inform an organisation that I have Asperger syndrome?

It is not usual practice to mention disabilities in a cover letter or email when applying to a private sector organisation unless they state that they welcome or give priority to people who are disabled. The public sector is a different story as many public sector organisations have a mechanism in place for dealing with disabled people and sometimes gives them priority.

Attitudes towards disabled people in the private sector is quite negative and any disability organisation will tell you this. If you were to mention you had a disability during an interview, then it is likely that things will go downhill pretty quickly. Mentioning a disability when applying for a job will almost certainly not secure you an interview. Asperger Technical has been informed that there are a few good examples of private sector employers including some of the High Street banks who actively work with all kinds of disabled people. However, such positive attitudes towards disabled people and recognition of the unique contribution people who reflect all walks of life can bring to an organisation is very uncommon in the engineering and IT sector at the moment. Therefore it is best to keep quiet about Asperger syndrome both at the application stage or the interview. 

It is against the law in the UK for people to be discriminated against because of a disability, but discrimination can be difficult to prove in practice. Employers and interviewers will always find an excuse why they failed  to employ a disabled person if they enquire after receiving their notice of rejection.

There is some controversy over whether it is a good idea to mention disabilities to an employer after you have been accepted into the organisation. Telling people you have Asperger syndrome could result in them being more helpful and supportive in certain situations such as dealing with unwritten etiquette, but also has the potential to hold you back by denying you promotions, especially if the more senior positions are seen to require more people skills. Larger companies have an occupational health department and it is recommended that you inform them about Asperger syndrome at the earliest opportunity.

Applying for a job in the public sector is usually accomplished using an application form. Traditionally they were paper, but most public sector organisations now have online application forms on their website. There is almost always a section on the form about disabilities. This section should be filled in as concisely and accurately as possible, and unlike with many private sector organisations, it will not jeopardise your chance of being invited for an interview. Sometimes it will increase your chances of being invited for interview. If there is a box for Asperger syndrome or high functioning autism then tick it. If there isn't, then tick the box for other disabilities and state that you have Asperger syndrome. Don't tick the boxes for mental health or learning difficulties, because Asperger syndrome does not fit into these categories. Technically it is a pervasive developmental disorder.

If you are having difficulty with disclosure then you could contact the NAS for advice and information on how to raise the subject with an employer and how best to explain it.

If you think you have been discriminated against either at a job interview or in the workplace then you should contact The Disability Rights Commission.

Will I benefit from an official diagnosis?

One of the commonest questions adults with Asperger syndrome ask is whether an official diagnosis will be of benefit to them. From the perspective of the employment market, the simple answer is no. Asperger Technical is not yet aware of any organisations that give people officially diagnosed with Asperger syndrome high priority with vacancies in science, engineering, or computing / IT. If anybody knows otherwise then please inform us.

Asperger Technical is aware of the difficulties adults face in getting a diagnosis, so unlike some other support groups, an official diagnosis is not required to access our services.

A large Asperger syndrome and ASD centre is under construction at a university in the south of England that will include a diagnostics centre for adults as one of its many services. Our staff have connections with people from the university so are informed of progress, and can offer their advice on services.

Selling yourself

Finding employment is more of a street skill than an intellectual skill and people of high intellectual ability are no better at succeeding in the job market than people of a lower intellectual ability. 

Success depends on a knowledge of the application and interview procedure and complying with unwritten social rules (many of which differ between organisations) that apply at every stage starting from responding to a job advert, to writing a CV and cover letter or filling in an application form, to taking part in an interview. An applicant has to give the correct answers to questions in the right way whilst getting their body language right. It sounds so simple in theory, but is difficult in practice.

Interview techniques can be learnt, but applying that knowledge can still be a hit and miss procedure that is dependent upon the interviewers themselves.

Job application procedures and interviews are areas where most people with Asperger syndrome would benefit from information and support, but most of all, employers and interviewers themselves need to be educated to see the potential beyond the superficiality of their interview procedures. A high proportion of interviewers have never heard of Asperger syndrome, and the few who have are rarely knowledgeable about the condition. The end result is a tendancy to misinterpret certain behaviour and body language such as nervousness, lack of eye contact, or abrupt talking or stuttering, as lack of confidence in oneself or downright bad manners.

Ideally interviewers should award people jobs based on skill and merit, rather than being the most eloquent and outgoing under intense scrutiny and pressure. Being an eloquent extrovert often gets you further in today's world of business, politics, and the media than other skills and expertise do. It well known that many people who overpromise whilst trying to get into power end up underdelivering once they get in power. After all, everybody is aware of the number of senior politicians who are high on spin and low on substance. Sadly, many people with Asperger syndrome are high on substance but undersell themselves to employers both in their CVs and interviews because they have difficulty in being diplomatic or putting spin on their words.

It is common practice for CVs and application forms to be initially processed by employment agents and human resources personnel before they are read by a manager or interviewer. These employment agents and human resources personnel generally have a poor knowledge of anything technical, and no real understanding of the requirements of the position, but are the gatekeepers to employment. Their task is to read the CVs and application forms, and literally match what is written on them to the words on their 'spec sheet'. Any CV or application form that isn't a perfect match to the 'spec sheet' is thrown in the bin. Exceptionally good applicants are sometimes 'weeded out' by these human resources people, and the interviewers or more technically minded people who really know who is and isn't worth interviewing never get to know of their existence. Repeating the words of the job spec on your CV or application form often gets it past the people from human resources. It is a rather pathetic and somewhat puerile tactic, but it is known to work.

One question that has been asked is whether it is a good idea to get a CV professionally written. This is difficult for Asperger Technical to answer. There are certainly plenty of people and organisations who can give good advice on writing CVs, but others are snake oil salesmen backed up by bogus testimonials who charge hundreds of pounds for third rate CVs.

Employment culture

Many job advertisements will ask for things like 'excellent interpersonal / communication skills', a 'team player', and a 'flexible / adaptable attitude'. The very nature of Asperger Syndrome is that these things can be difficult to deliver under certain circumstances. Of course, everyone is an individual, and some are more capable at coping with these demands than others.Other issues like compromising quality of workmanship for meeting business demands, taking criticism without getting upset, and not always being able to do things the way you want to, might also be stumbling blocks for some people. It very much depends on the nature of the organisation and the people you are expected to work with. Structure, routine, and familiarity are important, and it is important that areas of responsibility and what is expected from employees are clearly defined. Most people will go into a new job and will be able to sum up the social hierarchy pretty quickly and will watch others to see how they are expected to behave, but a person with Asperger syndrome will probably have all their attention devoted to making sense of their environment and the work they are going to be asked to do.

Some people are lucky enough to find jobs where they are able to more or less be themselves, or work for organisations that are happy to accommodate the needs of people with Asperger syndrome. If they don't work for such an organisation there isn't any choice but to make as much effort as possible to fit in with the system, act like other people, and try to do the same things as they can do in the same way. Putting in that sort of effort to assimilate everyday requires varying levels of concentration and effort depending on the individual and the situation. This can seriously detract from the tasks or project they are working on, giving a perceived image of underperformance. Some people are able to endure the social and corporate pressure and tension, but many others -  through no fault of their own - cannot. Even those that seem to cope at first may only be able to maintain it for a finite length of time - reports of stress and breakdown at work are quite commonplace.

To be a person of above average intelligence and ability, whilst being restrained by such subtle and trivial differences can be both frustrating and humiliating. Asperger Technical is 100% certain that all it takes is a subtle change in workplace attitudes to accommodate people with Asperger syndrome.

Communications in the workplace

Many jobs involve effectively communicating with both colleagues and external customers or organisations. It is tempting to assume that jobs that involve contact with the public are less suitable for people with Asperger syndrome than neurotypical people, but this is not necessarily the case. There are some types of communication for which people with Asperger syndrome are better suited than others. The best situations are those where following rules, being accurate, being knowledgeable about your subject matter, and not betraying your emotions either in the tone of voice or facial expressions. However, these are generally only useful in a professional context, not in a social one.

Social communication can be a big obstacle at work including coping with social bonding rituals like sarcastic banter and teasing, the need to network and develop rapport with colleagues, the pressure to perform well and impress at out of work social activities, handling bullies and exploiters, and projecting an image of competence and intelligence, all whilst trying to get on with the job itself. A good analogy is that it's like doing the same job as the (neurotypical) person next to you, but blindfolded with an invisible blindfold and with your hands tied behind your back with invisible rope

Help finding employment

Asperger Technical is not just a collection of words or advice to help people with Asperger syndrome find employment. We are a proactive organisation staffed by people who want to form an alliance with companies and government departments who value people with Asperger syndrome and the skills and knowledge they can offer. Our aim is to create a channel for highly skilled and qualified people with Asperger syndrome, and people from the high technology industry and government departments to connect with one another. This will enable people with Asperger syndrome to bypass the barriers and the stiff competition of the open job market.