Interview tips for autistic students
Interview tips for autistic students Before the interview: Research the company. The idea of researching is for you to find out more about the company and what it might be like to work there (that is to say, to gain an insight into what the working environment is like). It’s useful to know where the role you have applied for sits within the department / company (some company websites have organisational structures which can be viewed online on the company website). In addition to looking on the company website to find more about the work they do and their aims/ values/ projects they’re working on etc., looking on LinkedIn is also a helpful way of learning more about the company. On LinkedIn, you can see the recent ‘Posts’ the company has made. This is a useful to find additional information and helpful preparation for common interview questions such as ‘What do you understand this role to be?’ and ‘Why do you want to work for us?’ and may generate a question for you to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview. When invited to interview, if the interviewer/s is named, you could look them up on LinkedIn. By looking at their profile, you’ll be able to find out more about them and probably be able to see what they look like. If it is important for you to learn about the company's attitude and approach to supporting autistic candidates / employees, you could do some research. Ideas of things to research: Does the organisation have a staff disability network? Are there staff who are mental health first aiders? Is their website accessible? Do they have a diversity statement which mentions disability/neurodiversity/autism? Are they signed up to any disability schemes? Are they proactive in encouraging candidates to ask for reasonable adjustments if they require them? For in-person interviews: If your interview is taking place in-person, plan your route before the day of the interview. Sometimes, the quickest route isn’t always the best route to take so think about the most convenient / stress-free route. In terms of what to wear, choose clothes you feel comfortable in. However, bear in mind that that an interview is a formal context, so it is important to be dressed smartly to give a professional first impression. It doesn’t necessarily follow that you will need to wear smart clothes in the job (most companies have a dress code). If unsure what is the expected dress code for the interview, you could ask the interviewer in advance or ask the opinion of a friend, family member, or ask a careers adviser at your university. For online interviews: You may wish to practice the technology before the day of the interview. For instance, if you have used Zoom a lot but the interview is over a platform you haven’t used before such as Teams it’d be a good idea to familiarise yourself with the platform. Choose a quiet place with a strong internet connection to do the interview in. If you don’t feel there is an appropriate space at home, it is sometimes possible to book a room at your university for you to have the online interview in. Employers are accustomed to there being a tech issue during an interview such as a candidate not being able share their screen, so although it’s important to familiarise yourself the technology in advance, employers are used to there being some glitches. Consider the background (that is to say what the interviewer/s can see behind you) and consider the lighting (is it too dark that they can’t see you? Or is it much too bright?) If you have an interview coming up, consider booking in for an appointment with your university Careers Service to talk through what you can expect at the interview, and to discuss how best to prepare. Edmund Lewis, LSE Careers, AGCAS Disability Task Group |
