Autism and Strategies for Success in Job Interviews

Unlock the secrets to mastering job interviews as an autistic individual with insights that could change your career trajectory. Join me, Stephen McHugh, on the latest episode of Stephen's Evolution, where I aim to equip you with practical strategies to navigate the unique challenges that autistic individuals can face during interviews. From tackling the intricacies of eye contact and body language to interpreting commonly used questions like, "Tell me about yourself," my objective here is to try and empower you with the skills to present your best self, and significantly boost your chances of landing your dream job.

I'll dive into tailored preparation strategies for various roles, emphasising the importance of detailed, structured responses using the STAR method. I'll share personal stories and insights, highlighting how to draw from both professional and personal experiences to answer challenging behavioural questions more confidently. Beyond interview tactics, I highlight the importance of researching potential employers to align your values with theirs, and express genuine interest more effectively. As I wrap up, stay tuned for a sneak peek into our next episode focusing on fostering inclusivity and understanding in the workplace, aiming to create a supportive environment for autistic individuals.

Thanks for listening. You can find me on my website stephensevolution.com, or on twitter here. You can sign up to receive news of new episodes when they're released here.


Artwork produced by Elena Designe
Music composed by Nela Ruiz

Transcript

Stephen McHugh 0:22

Hi there and welcome back to another episode of the Stephen's Evolution podcast. I'm Stephen McHugh, your host, and I'm delighted to have you here for this episode. If you're new here, this podcast is all about exploring life from my lived experiences as an autistic person. It is where I talk about topics that I've grappled with, hoping my experiences, tips and strategies might resonate with you, or someone you know or support. This latest episode is the fourth of five linked to autism and the workplace. It's a topic of interest to me and can be seen as important for so many of us who may be trying to find our footing in professional environments. In the last three episodes, things I talked about were ways in which how I steered clear of roles that I believe didn't suit my strengths. The second one was to do with breaking down what I thought were vague terms in job descriptions to try and decode what's really being asked for. The third one was to do with insights into navigating varied communication styles in work environments. If you haven't listened to these episodes yet, you can find them at stephensevolutionbuzzsproutcom.

Stephen McHugh 2:38

For this episode, what I'm going to focus on is job interviews, and the strategies that I've come across and learned and that I believe may be helpful for autistic individuals like myself. Whether you're new to the interview process or you may be looking for a fresh perspective, I hope the insights in this episode can make a noticeable difference for you. Are you ready? Let's get stuck in.

Stephen McHugh 3:22

And now, what I'm going to talk about is, some of the unique challenges that I believe job interviews can present for us. For many of us, interviews can be quite daunting. However, there are some additional hurdles that can make this process feel even more overwhelming. Firstly, one thing I can think of, of and is worth bringing to one's attention is the issue of eye contact. This can be particularly difficult for autistic individuals. Some of us may avoid this altogether because it may feel unnatural to us or even uncomfortable. Unfortunately, in interview situations, this may be misinterpreted as a lack of confidence or interest or engagement, even though it might not necessarily be the case at all. And secondly, there's the processing of questions at the moment of them being asked.

Stephen McHugh 4:45

Interviews can often involve quick back-and-forth exchanges, and the way the language in the questions is presented or phrased might catch us off guard. It can therefore take extra time to process what's being asked, and when you're feeling the pressure to respond immediately, it can be all too easy to stumble or misunderstand a particular question. This can lead into anxiety, which is an important factor. Feeling like you have to answer straight away can trigger a sort of mental scramble that doesn't quite cover your skills, strengths or experiences in relation to a job for which you may be applying. Sometimes it can also mean answering with a simple yes or no, neither of which doesn't give an interviewer a chance to see the real you.

Stephen McHugh 6:08

Distractions can be another challenge. For example, you may like be seated facing a window. Here, you might find your concentration drifting to any events that may be going on outside here it's not that you're necessarily uninterested in the conversation. It could be that our brains might naturally hone in on those external stimuli. However, to any interviewer it might seem like your attention is elsewhere, which could potentially lead to misunderstandings about your interest and enthusiasm for a particular role.

Stephen McHugh 6:59

Lastly, there's the issue of body language and non-verbal communication. This is an area where many autistic people could potentially face another challenge. It could be knowing how to project the right image through voice tones, postures or facial expressions. To those of us on the autism spectrum, this isn't always intuitive and, because non-verbal cues can be seen as important in interviews, it can feel like there's this invisible rule book we haven't been given. Consequently, it can be harder to navigate these interactions more effectively. All of these factors combined can make interviews particularly difficult. However, they're not insurmountable.

Stephen McHugh 8:10

And now I'm going to delve into what I believe can be one of the trickiest parts of interviews, understanding what an interviewer may be really asking you. This can be particularly challenging for those of us on the spectrum because of the ways we may process language. We often may take it literally, or focus on the surface meaning of a question, but, as I learned, many interview questions can have hidden layers or underlying qualities. An interviewer may be looking to evaluate things like adaptability, teamwork or problem solving. Take one question, "Tell me about yourself Now. On the surface, when I think about it, it could seem like they may be asking you for your life story. Right, but here's the thing. They're not. It's very easy to get caught up in sharing too much information. Instead, a more ideal and concise response might be to focus on your skills and strengths and how they may align with the position you may be applying for. For example, you could say something like along the lines of I'm someone who has key skills in or qualities in, whatever, and I believe they can help me in these ways in this job"

Stephen McHugh 10:08

In that way, your answer can be more focused, relevant and give the interviewer what they need without going off track

Stephen McHugh 10:18

.

Stephen McHugh 10:20

Another common question can be what appeals to you about the position to which you're applying. At first, this could . But like an invitation to talk on and on about the company or the description, itself, but the employer is really trying to judge how well you've understood the job's description and what aspects of the role match your strengths, skills and experiences. A helpful tip here might be to identify attention, a few key strengths or responsibilities listed in the job advert that may have caught your attention and explain how they may align with your abilities. For example, you might say the role emphasises attention to detail and problem

Stephen McHugh 11:19

solving, which infamous, "hat where I have excelled in?"

Stephen McHugh 11:24

previous experiences and other job roles. Then there's the infamous what are your strengths and weaknesses?

Stephen McHugh 11:37

First, let's go into all about weaknesses. It's important here not to is, say I don't have any. It's important to. bear in mind that none of us are perfect. at, Instead, consider mentioning about a past weakness and how role, worked to improve it. For instance, in my case, one of my challenges was verbal communication. In my case, one of my challenges was verbal communication. It hasn't always been easy, but I recognised this and took steps to improve, such as doing a small bit of phone work and message taking at a previous role. In my opinion, by showing that you faced such a challenge and worked to overcome it, what you're demonstrating is adaptability and self-awareness. And now on to strengths. The way you should look at them is try and link them back to the job Instead of listing and going through everything you're good at focus more on qualities that are relevant to the role and explain how they may be beneficial to you in terms of helping you trying to succeed in it.

Stephen McHugh 13:02

For example, you could say "One of my key strengths is strengths mentioned here which I believe can help me, and then mention a specific task or duty in the role you're applying for. Understanding the deeper meaning behind such questions can take some practice along the way, but over time you may start to see the patterns. It will all become easier to come up with responses to truly highlight your abilities in the best light.

Stephen McHugh 13:49

And now, in this next section, I'm going to talk about ways in which you can approach answering interview questions, including tricky, hypothetical ones. This is based largely on an experience I had when applying for a higher ranked position within a company I was already working for. Looking back, that interview challenged me in ways I wasn't fully prepared for. However, it taught me valuable lessons that I'd like to share with you here. One of the questions they asked was give me an example of a time when you had to meet a deadline for a certain project. To me it may seem straightforward now, but back then it caught me off guard a little. Looking back, one thing I remember was my answers being too brief, on the whole. While I mentioned that I met the deadline, what I didn't do was explain how I did it, which would include describing steps taken to plan, prioritize and execute the project. By doing this, I could have made my answer more engaging and effectively showcased my skills.

Stephen McHugh 15:43

One framework that was useful for me, looking back it was thinking about a situation, and the task, followed by the action taken, and the eventual end result. For example, the way in which you might be able to approach such a question would be you may have had an important project for a particular client with a tight deadline of maybe two weeks. Your task could have been where you were responsible for coordinating team input, allocating relevant tasks, and compiling the final report. Action taken could include creating a timeline, with milestones achieved and communicating this with the team to ensure progress, and making any adjustments as and when necessary during any unforeseen delays that may have arisen during the project. And an example of the end result, the project could be done on time and exceed the client's expectations. By breaking your answer down like this, you can provide a clearer and more complete picture of your own abilities.

Stephen McHugh 17:23

One thing I also learned from this was that behavioural questions can be where interviewers look for examples from your past experiences, and they often may require more depth than I initially thought. The questions I was asked required more depth than I initially provided. They're looking more than just a surface-level answer. They want to understand more about how you may think, act and solve problems in real-world situations. One thing that helped me over time was realising that examples don't have to come from work. I was reminded of this during the interview, which made things that little bit easier.

Stephen McHugh 18:19

If you're asked about a time when you had to show leadership or solve a conflict, it can be okay to pull examples from personal life, as long as they demonstrate the skill they're asking about. For instance, some other challenging but relevant questions for that higher ranked position could have included,

Stephen McHugh 18:44

"Give an example of where you had to stay organized and manage workloads and manage workloads

Stephen McHugh 18:50

"Tell me about a time when you had to manage disagreements in a team, like over priorities

Stephen McHugh 19:04

"Give an example of a situation where you managed multiple priorities at once

Stephen McHugh 19:06

"Give an example of when you have taken initiative on a project".

Stephen McHugh 19:12

In these cases, using examples from a mix of work, personal or volunteer experiences could work equally well. The main thing is to focus on what you did and the positive outcomes that

Stephen McHugh 19:35

resulted.

Stephen McHugh 19:36

. One question that could come up whether or not it's come up in any interview, I don't know, but it could . be what do excellent communication skills mean to you At the time of the interview? to answer, but now I'd feel more in a better position to tackle do, the successfully. For me, communication isn't just low being the most talkative, socially gifted or most engaged person in the room or task. For me, it's all about being more effective in ways that are more natural to you and authentic as well. For instance, my strengths lie more in written communication. What writing does is it allows me the time to organise directly, my thoughts more clearly and cohesively and present them in a way that's easier for others to understand. It also removes the need for me to try higher interpret body language or adjust my frameworks, whenever I may be speaking to someone. These are things I found more challenging in verbal conversations. Excellent communication skills

Stephen McHugh 21:09

for me isn't a one-size-fits-all.

Stephen McHugh 21:14

It's all about trying to find and use the methods on, work best for you Now when I think back to the types of roles I've been more accustomed to, to the. types But of roles I've been more it, accustomed to, like those focused on to do. The interviews were often very"why different. For lower entry jobs, the focus

Stephen McHugh 21:46

can be more on practical skills, reliability and attention to detail, rather than abstract problem solving or higher level decision making. Such roles would allow me to demonstrate my ability to thrive in structural, task-orientated environments. The interviews would feel more straightforward because they concentrated more be, "I I could do directly rather than how I might hypothetically handle more complex scenarios. While those earlier experiences provided a solid

Stephen McHugh 22:34

foundation, the challenges of having an interview for a higher level position highlighted the importance of task, the action and the end result, and being able to give more detailed, thoughtful responses

Stephen McHugh 22:58

.

Practical Interview Preparation

Stephen McHugh 23:01

In the next part of this episode, what I'll do is explore some specific strategies you can use to prepare for interviews, including how to practice answers you may give, anticipate questions another, may be asked and how to stay calm when under pressure. Now let's move on to practical tips for preparing for interviews, including things that have been beneficial for me and could make an important difference for you, too, in terms of a confidence boost.

Stephen McHugh 23:52

One of the best pieces of advice I received early on was to research the company before going for the interview. At first I didn't quite understand why this was so important Data Capture Technician I thought about it it made a lot of sense questions, It it made a lot of sense. Employers are known to often ask why do you want to work for us? Without prior research, it can be very difficult to give a meaningful answer. By researching and learning about a company's mission, values and goals, or even just recent projects or news, you can tailor your response to show genuine interest. For instance, your response might be I admire your commitment to a specific value or initiative, and I believe that aligns with my own skills and goals. Another strategy that has been very helpful for me was getting interview questions in advance whenever possible. Advance whenever possible. memorise While this isn't always an option, there was a time when it made for, a big difference.

Stephen McHugh 25:18

I had been working as a temp at a bank's records centre for about a year when the opportunity came up for a permanent role and it was decided for me to be made a permanent member of staff there. Part of the process involved me having an interview, but one thing they did was give me questions beforehand, which allowed me to prepare myself thoroughly. One question I remember was what do you think makes a good team player? I gave several possibilities here. One response I remember was by having a good sense of humour. This I believe to be important, as it can help build good relationships with one another and help to ease tension in more difficult situations. Having already had extensive experience in team environments, I could refer back to real-life experiences, and the preparation here helped me to feel more confident. The feedback I received at a later date was that I did a good job in the interview, something I credit to having the chance to prepare myself thoroughly the chance to prepare myself thoroughly.

Stephen McHugh 26:57

Preparation doesn't always mean having the exact questions in advance. Another technique that helped me in a different role was doing a rehearsal with a recruitment consultant. This was for a data capture technician position, and the consultant went through with me likely questions and gave me tips to help me fine-tune my technique. Looking back, this was a timely confidence organise, giving me valuable . insights Afterwards, the to present myself more effectively. The preparation paid off and was very important, as the employer was impressed enough to give me the job. I still remember the recruitment consultant ringing me later on the day of the interview, be, after it, to ask how I thought it went. That follow-up made me reflect on how important small steps . Instead, the small steps of preparation, that helped to build my confidence and performance. The takeaway here is, that preparation isn't just about having to memorize answers. It's about feeling prepared, ready, understanding. Here, by you're applying for and knowing your own strengths and experiences inside out. Whether it's researching a particular company, rehearsing with someone or asking for questions in advance, these steps can bring you closer to presenting your best self during the interview stage.

Stephen McHugh 29:00

Before I wrap up, one thing I want to talk about is something that I believe could potentially make an important difference, not only just for autistic job seekers, but for anyone who approaches communication and problem solving a little bit differently. A

Stephen McHugh 29:27

For me, that's the idea of encouraging employers to try and adapt their interview structures workspace, be more inclusive. For working, example, allowing time for written responses during an interview could make a difference. equipment, Sometimes, by having the chance to, let's say, jot down notes or provide a written response, even if it's just in bullet points, can help someone organize task, thoughts more effectively Afterwards. The interviewer then could ask you to elaborate or provide examples of your skills and experiences based on context, notes. For me, this method could acknowledge that not. everyone

Stephen McHugh 32:58

At its core, it can processes or communicates information in the same way. Another idea could be is to incorporate demonstrations into the from, "can itself. Let's say, a role involves explaining complex information to others, instead of just asking how you've done this in the past. One thing the interviewer could do here is invite

Stephen McHugh 30:52

you to demonstrate this skill, perhaps by using a computer screen or a task scenario here, by having something practical to work with, could make it easier to convey one's skills and understanding.

Stephen McHugh 31:14

Employers could also include and offer opportunities to demonstrate specific job-related abilities. For instance, in one of my interviews I was asked to do a typing test. One important thing this allowed me to do quick and accurate I was. How quick and accurate I was. This is an approach that can shift the focus from abstract you, conversation into real-world application. This can be especially beneficial for those of us who may thrive in hands-on, task-orientated environments. In hands-on, task-orientated environments, another adaptation that could be useful might be to consider offering a tour of the workspace where one may be working as part of the whole interview process. By seeing the office, the equipment and the team in action, one can gain a clearer understanding of what will be expected. Employers could then ask questions like how would you approach this particular task or what steps would you take to complete this task. This can give the candidate a chance to see the job in context and respond in a way that may feel more natural can be about recognising and valuing different ways of processing, interacting and communicating. They can shift the focus from can you perform well under the pressure of a traditional interview Interview to can you do the job? And for many of us, that can be where our strengths can potentially really shine.

Stephen McHugh 33:35

And as I come to the end of this episode, what I want to do now is leave you with one key thought. Interviews, the way I look at them, are not a one-size-fits-all process. What may work for one person may not necessarily work for another, and that's okay. The main thing here is to prepare in ways that you believe may help you https://www. stephensevolution. com confident

Stephen McHugh 34:06

and capable that you'll do all right. By practicing questions beforehand, researching a company and reflecting on your own strengths, skills and experiences can be all very beneficial.

Stephen McHugh 34:27

If you're still listening and have your own experiences or tips that I haven't mentioned and you believe they may be relevant to this episode, then please feel free to share them to this episode. Then please feel free to share them. You can text this podcast by following a link in the episode description. Maybe there's a technique that worked very well for you or a perspective that you believe could help others. I also want to extend the invitation to any employers who may be listening to share their own thoughts on practices they've implemented or could implement to make interviews more inclusive. By doing this together, we may be able to create more understanding and better opportunities for everyone.

Stephen McHugh 35:32

Thanks for tuning in. If you found this episode helpful, I'd really appreciate it if you could share it with others who you believe could benefit from it. You can also subscribe to stay updated on new episodes and other podcast-related news. One way you can do this is by following the Stay in the Loop link towards the footer of the homepage of my website, stephensevolutioncom. Next time, I'll be wrapping up this series on autism and the workplace by discussing about how to foster understanding among colleagues and recognise autistic strengths and challenges, and building a more inclusive work environment. Thanks again for listening, take care and I'll see you in the next episode out.