Job hunting is one of the most universally hated experiences by neurodivergent folks. It makes sense when you think about it – the fatigue and mental load of crafting persuasive applications, deciphering and responding to cryptic interview questions, and the sting that comes with every rejection… there’s a lot to dislike.
Refraining from job hunting isn’t realistic for most people, so neurodivergent professionals are usually forced to figure out how to adapt to a world of work that wasn’t built to accommodate them. At best, the process can be frustrating and confusing – and at worst, it can be a triggering and debilitating experience.
There is a silver lining though – there are more and more experts emerging from the neurodiversity movement, with a desire to help their community members. During our recent Office Hours Q&A, our resident career coach and host, Veronica Yao, joined forces with Ashley Cross, a seasoned career counsellor who supports neurodivergent and queer professionals.
Read on for the recap and key takeaways, or scroll to the bottom of the blog to watch the full recording!
Meet the Experts
Veronica Yao (she/her) is a career coach who specializes in supporting neurodivergent professionals in navigating their careers. She is also the owner of Atypical Careers. She says that the workplace is often not designed with neurodivergent individuals in mind, which compounds the daily challenges that her clients face.
Veronica is passionate about helping her clients build sustainable work lives, break free from burnout, and advocate for themselves in their professional environments.
Ashley (she/they) is neurodivergent, nonbinary, and has been coaching clients on job search strategies, resumes, LinkedIn, and interviewing since 2013. They are passionate about helping career changers find meaningful work that aligns with their skills, interests, values, and identities. They specialize in working with professionals who are LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, and/or have invisible disabilities.
Setting Your Career Direction
“Find out what you like and what you don’t. And it’s almost always easier to start with what you don’t.”
– Ashley Cross
It can be difficult to find clarity on what you want when you are feeling burnt out and exhausted from work. Both Ashley and Veronica say that a huge chunk of their work involves helping their clients figure out their goals and envision what they want their work life to look like.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help you set a career direction:
- What aspects of your work life feel relatively easy, or even effortless for you?
- What aspects of your work life would you like to bring forward in your career?
- What aspects of your work life do you want to avoid in your future career?
Managing Overwhelm & Anxiety
Overwhelm and anxiety can feel like a huge nuisance, especially when they kick in during critical points in your job hunt. But think of it this way – these feelings are your body’s way of trying to protect you from perceived threats. What we need to do is manage how it impacts you.
Understanding where your anxiety is rooted from is the first step to learning how to manage the effects and the aftermath. This is easier said than done, especially for those of us who struggle with delayed gratification. Ashley recommends aiming for small, incremental changes – not just the big changes, and celebrating small wins throughout your job hunting journey.
“A lot of the overwhelm and anxiety we experience has to do with the question marks and blank spaces we have in our heads,” says Veronica. She goes on to explain that the unknown factors in a job hunt are a common source of anxiety. Try asking yourself what information you need in order to feel more grounded – then, whenever possible, ask yourself how you can find that information so you know what you’re dealing with.
Applications: Resumes & Cover Letters
During the session, Veronica and Ashley discussed a few different resume formats to consider, as an alternative to the classic “chronological timeline”. These formats may work in your favour depending on what strengths you are trying to highlight.
These two types of resume formats are best suited to professionals who are navigating a career transition, and feel they would benefit from highlighting their transferable skills over their relevant work history.
Skills-Based Resumes
These resumes focus on your skills and experiences, rather than a chronological work history, which can be beneficial for those with employment gaps or varied experiences. They highlight what you are good at and provide examples to support those skills.
Hybrid Resumes
A hybrid resume combines elements of both chronological and skills-based formats. It includes a brief work history but emphasizes your skills and accomplishments, demonstrating experience while showcasing what you bring to the table.
Interview Tips
“Remember your value – if you’ve been chosen for the interview it means they have identified that you have something to offer. And they want you to do well!”
-Ashley Cross
Interviews can feel especially heavy when there’s a lot on the line. Perhaps you’re struggling financially, or you’re completely burnt out in your current job and you desperately need a new one. Veronica also points out that the power dynamic between the employer and the candidate almost always favours the employer, which can be especially intimidating.
Ashley encourages neurodivergent professionals to remember that an invitation for an interview most often means that you are qualified for the job – and the employer wants you to do well, as it’s in their best interest to bring someone on board as soon as possible.
START method for behavioural interview questions
If you, like many neurodivergent folks, struggle with organizing your thoughts, Ashley recommends the START method. The START method is a way to structure your answers to behavioral interview questions. It helps you provide clear, concise, and comprehensive responses by focusing on specific details.
Here’s a quick outline of the concept below:
- S – Situation:
- Describe the context of the situation.
- Set the scene for the interviewer.
- Provide enough detail so they understand what was happening.
- T – Task:
- Explain what your responsibility or task was within that situation.
- What were you specifically asked or expected to do?
- A – Action:
- Detail the specific actions you took.
- What did you do? Be specific and avoid generalities.
- Focus on your individual contribution.
- R – Result:
- Share the outcome or result of your actions.
- What happened as a consequence of what you did?
- Quantify results if possible (e.g., “increased sales by 15%”).
- T – Takeaway:
- What did you learn from this experience?
- What did you take away from it?
- How has it informed your approach since then?
Ask clarifying questions
Veronica shares that during interviews in the past, she would sometimes stall for time before giving an answer by asking clarifying questions. “Sometimes I’d be like, ‘just to be clear, is this what you’re looking for?’,” she says.
Ashley went further to explain the power of using clarifying questions, not just to stall for time, but to demonstrate your investment in getting them the information they need to make their hiring decision, and doing so in a helpful manner. This approach can also help you feel more confident that you are answering their question in a way that aligns with their expectations.
Career Networking
“Networking is a very effective way to get jobs, because we as human beings tend to put a lot of trust in our relationships.”
-Veronica Yao
Networking is often touted as the only way that people can reliably get jobs these days. This narrative can put a lot of stress and pressure on neurodivergent professionals who struggle with things like social interactions, sensory sensitivities, and general overwhelm.
To clarify, Veronica states that while networking is a highly effective and reliable method for securing a job, that doesn’t mean you should force yourself to do it like everyone else. The first thing you should do is figure out the root causes of your networking challenges.
For example, if you struggle with busy, crowded environments, consider focusing on smaller networking events over large ones. Or consider focusing your efforts on online networking through platforms like Linkedin. Playing to your strengths and accommodating the aspects you find difficult is key.
Ashley adds that tapping into existing connections is a good place to start. Begin reaching out to people who you are more comfortable with, rather than forcing yourself to send out cold messages right off the bat. This could include friends, loved ones, or past colleagues. You might be surprised what kind of opportunities open up for you!
Using Tools and AI
There is no doubt that AI can be a helpful tool to help you in your job hunt. It’s best to use it strategically – not just as a magical “answer generator”.
Remember, recruiters and hiring managers are well aware of the existence of AI and ChatGPT. They will be able to tell the difference between a resume that was created by AI, and one that was created by you, with assistance from AI.
For example, you can use it to detect keywords in your job postings or documents. It’s also great for helping you research industry terminology. AI can also be helpful for you to practice your interview answers, and get constructive feedback on your answers.