I’ve been working with Brandon (not his real name) who is stuck working at a grocery store where he only gets two or three days a week. This is common at some chain grocery stores where they seem to hire people on the spectrum just to look good or feel good about hiring someone with a “disability.”
We were doing a mock interview and when I asked Brandon the most common interview question, “Tell me about yourself,” Brandon had no hesitation in saying that he has autism. In fact, this response came immediately after saying his name, where he graduated from high school, and telling me about his certification class.
I told Brandon that it’s fine to say he has autism but to be prepared to explain how his autism is relevant to his employment.
This could play into the interviewer’s question about strengths and weaknesses. However, I cautioned Brandon about how he should respond about weaknesses.
Brandon said his autism can cause him to be distracted. But, when I asked him to explain when this happened, it had nothing to do with being distracted at work. I asked him about background music, machinery or banging which would be common in his workplace, and he said it wasn’t a problem.
The fact is there are more “strengths” than “weaknesses” in hiring an autistic employee. This is how Brandon needs to explain his autism to the employer.
The key strengths that a worker with autism brings to an employer are:
* A lack of distractions in the workplace that others have through social interactions, social media, use of cellphones, and outside activities.
* Autistic workers are highly-focused, detailed and hard-working employees. If they like the job, they will give it their very best.
* Excellent attendance. Without the outside distractions from social activities, night-life, etc., they will be there on time every day they’re scheduled. My son on the spectrum had perfect attendance in 7th grade (no absences or sickness).
* Many have above average intelligence and excel at problem solving or figuring things out.
* Many are honest to a fault. White lies are not in their DNA. They are straight shooters no matter how much it may hurt the other person.
So, when it comes to answering the weakness question (which really isn’t asked as often today), I told Brandon you certainly don’t want to sound arrogant and say “I don’t have any weaknesses.” However, don’t get carried away in answering it. Instead, say how you’ve recognized your weakness and how you address it.
“Sometimes I get too focused on the details and forget about the overall project. However, I’ve learned to step back and review our progress and assess where we need to go.” Some people might say “see the forest through the trees.”
Employers want to hire good listeners and learners and that’s what you—as an autistic adult—can bring to the job because you really want to learn. Having autism isn’t a disability or a weakness; it’s a strength of its own.
