By Anna Everts
This blog discusses the pros and cons of disclosing autism during a job interview. It is written for autistic people, by an autistic person with experience of the subject.
So, you’ve landed a job interview. Great! But now there are probably a million questions going through your mind: “What questions will they ask?”, “What should I wear?”, “What do I want to find out from them?” and, most importantly, “Do I tell them I’m autistic?”
For most autistic people, that last question is the one they think about the longest. It’s not surprising, really. It’s an important question that could, unfortunately, affect the outcome of the interview. But for every reason to stay quiet about it, there is also a good reason to tell your possible future employer. Here are the pros and cons, so you can make a decision that fits your situation.
Reasons to disclose your autism during a job interview
1. It’s a part of you
Autism is a part of you and it always will be. Like it or not, it is likely to affect the way you interact with colleagues, managers and even clients. And that’s okay. Everyone deals with people differently, autistic or not. Some people loathe making phone calls, are a little too hyper around clients or constantly disagree with their co-workers. No one handles social interactions the same way.
For autistic people, social interaction often takes more energy, but that doesn’t make us hard to work with. When someone hires you, they hire all of you, and that includes your autism. So if an employer wouldn’t want you because you’re autistic, ask yourself whether you want to work there. There will be other places that are glad of your qualities and can give you what you need to do your best work.
Pro: Your openness and honesty might be seen as a plus. You’ll also find out whether the company is biased.
Con: The employer might be thinking in negative stereotypes. Looking for employers who are actively working on neuroinclusion, such as those advertising on the Enna jobs board, can reduce that risk.
2. It prevents unwanted surprises
Sometimes we autistic people need a little more from our workplace than others: a more thorough briefing, extra time to work on a task, or a buddy who’s always ready to answer our questions. If you need these things to do your job well, it can help to be open about it from the start. If you aren’t, your employer may hire you with expectations that don’t match how you work best, and both sides end up disappointed.
When you clearly state what you need to be a productive part of the team, and suggest how those needs can be met, an employer will see that you are flexible and willing to meet them halfway. That might just earn you the extra points you need to get hired!
Pro: It prevents stress and miscommunication on both sides.
Con: Some employers might not be willing to meet you halfway. Remember that UK employers have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments, including during recruitment.
3. It gives you a chance to highlight your skills
Being autistic is part of what makes you you, and you may well have strengths that come with it. You can use these to your advantage. For example, during an interview you could say something like:
“I’m autistic, which means I’m really good at picking up on details. That helps me do my work with great precision.”
By presenting your autism in a positive light, the employer will think of your strengths first before making any assumptions about you. Of course you can mention any skill you think is valuable. Applying for a creative role? Tell them about your creativity! Does your autism make you a good problem solver? Tell them about that! Take some time to list your strengths and mention them during the interview. That way there’s less room for negative stereotypes. Our guide to answering the strengths and weaknesses question can help you prepare.
Pro: It can change the way the employer sees autism.
Con: Employers may still worry about supporting an autistic employee. There is plenty of good advice out there for them; they may just need pointing towards it.
Reasons it might be better not to disclose your autism
1. People can be prejudiced
This is the sad truth. Many people are uninformed about what autism actually is, and most of their knowledge comes from extreme stereotypes. People can learn, but that doesn’t mean they will. For this reason it might be better not to tell an employer that you’re autistic. Especially if you really need a job and can’t face another rejection, staying quiet might be the best way to go.
And if you’ve noticed that people tend to see only your autism and not the rest of you, it might also be a good idea to keep quiet for now. You can always tell them later. You could choose not to tell them at first, let them get to know you, and bring it up once you’ve started the job. That way your first impression isn’t tied to your autism.
Pro: The employer can get to know you without making false assumptions about you.
Con: If the employer doesn’t know you’re autistic, they won’t be able to provide the adjustments or support you might need.
2. Your autism doesn’t affect what the job needs
Let’s say you find talking to people on the phone or face to face hard, but talking to someone by text is not an issue at all. And let’s say you’re applying for a job as a virtual customer service assistant, where you’ll only answer customers in writing. So what’s the issue?
This is just one example of a case where you might not need to mention your autism. If you feel it won’t affect the tasks you’ll be doing, then why bring it up? You don’t always have to tell people that you’re autistic if there’s no reason for them to know. Of course, you can still tell them if you’d feel more comfortable that way. It’s all a matter of what you think is best.
Pro: Not mentioning it when it isn’t needed can protect you from prejudice.
Con: If problems do come up later, you might still want to bring up your autism. But by then you’ll have shown what you can do, so you’ll have less reason to worry about prejudice.
What the law says
In the UK, employers can only ask limited questions about health or disability during recruitment, for example to work out whether they need to make adjustments to the selection process. GOV.UK explains your rights as a disabled job applicant. Telling an employer you’re autistic is always your choice.
Making your decision
Whether or not you mention your autism during a job interview depends entirely on your situation. In the end, do what feels best for you. If you’re very worried about the employer’s reaction and it’s eating you up inside, don’t sweat it. Focus on the interview itself and leave it for now.
If you want to be sure you’re accepted for who you are and don’t mind taking the risk, go ahead and tell them! Make your own list of pros and cons so you can reach a conclusion that works for you. But whatever you decide, know that you have value. You bring qualities to the table that others might not have, so never settle for a place where your efforts aren’t appreciated.
For more on this, read our article on disclosing autism once you are in a job.
How Enna can help you find the right employer
The Enna jobs board brings together roles from employers who want neurodivergent talent, and you can set up job alerts so you never miss a new one. If you decide to disclose, our disclosure templates give you wording you can adapt, and our CV help page will get your application ready.
