Getting a Job When You Have Autism

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Many people (autistic people included) need jobs in order to stay afloat financially.  Jobs can also bring a sense of accomplishment, the opportunity to learn new skills, and the chance to meet new people.  However, entering the workforce when you have autism has some unique challenges.  Other people might not know much about autism and/or make assumptions about you and your abilities.  To help navigate this tricky set of circumstances, we wrote out some tips to help people with autism find jobs and thrive in the workplace.

What can you do to prepare for a job interview and your job altogether?

Bring a notebook to write down the questions you are being asked and the key points that you would like to discuss. This will allow you to organize your thoughts and prepare a thoughtful answer.

Practice giving concise answers to open-ended questions. Interviewers tend to rely on some standard open-ended questions that they use to learn more about you.  It might be helpful to prepare answers to the following questions in advance.

  • Tell me about yourself.
  • What is something you are interested in?
  • When was the last time you faced a challenge and overcame it?
  • Why do you want to work at this company?
  • What attracted you to our job posting?
  • What are your goals for the future?
  • How do you handle conflict at work?
  • Tell me about your previous work experience.
  • What are your strengths?
  • Do you have any questions (about the job or company)?

Review all of the things that typically happen during a job interview and how you should respond to them. For example:

  • If the interview is in person, make sure you arrive a little early (10-15 minutes).  If the interview is over video conference, make sure you have a quiet place for the interview.
  • Start the interview by shaking the interviewer’s hand, make eye contact if possible, and ask them how they are.  The interviewer will probably ask you how you are doing in response.  You don’t have to answer that question in too much detail, just tell them that you are doing well and that you are excited about the interview.
  • The interviewer will probably ask you some of the standard interview questions we listed earlier.  Answer them to the best of your ability.  If you get nervous, it is okay to take a deep breath and count to five in your head before responding.  Remember – interviewers expect interviewees to be a little nervous.  They won’t mind.
  • When the interview is done answering questions, they will probably ask you if you have any questions for them.  It is a good idea to ask a few questions (3-5 questions) about the position you are interviewing for.
  • If you have any strengths that the interviewer has not asked about, you can mention them when the interviewer is done asking you questions.
  • End the interview by thanking the interviewer for taking the time to interview you. You may also ask if the interviewer knows when the company might make a decision about who they are going to hire.

For additional tips on navigating the interview process and everyday life at work, here is an interview with a neurodiversity consultant.

For insight on someone’s personal experience in the workforce, explore the channel “Autism from the Inside” on YouTube. He discusses why socializing can be painful and explains why verbal communication can be challenging.

How should I talk to my employer about autism? 

If you need accommodations from your employer, you need to ask for them!  Your employer is not legally allowed to ask you if you have autism or make assumptions about your needs.  Therefore, they will not know what accommodations you may need if you don’t tell them.

If you feel comfortable doing so, you can tell your employer that you have autism.  Or, if you don’t feel comfortable identifying yourself as autistic to your employers, you could also say that you have a medical condition which requires reasonable accommodation.

However, once you have disclosed that you have a medical condition, your employer does have the right to ask for proof of your disability.  It is recommended that you bring documentation from a physician that shows your diagnosis.

It is up to you when you would like to disclose that you have autism – that could be during the interview process or after receiving an offer for the position.

Please click on the Asperger/Autism Network link below to see a template of a letter that you could use to speak with your employer about your autism.  This example was adapted from the Sample Letter to the Employer provided by the Asperger/Autism Network.

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Article by: The Autism ToolKit

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