Help with your CV
Job hunting asks a lot of anyone. If you’re autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic or otherwise neurodivergent, the process often adds extra barriers that have nothing to do with how good you’d be at the job. Vague adverts, rigid application forms and interviews that reward quick small talk can all get in the way.
This page brings together Enna’s free CV resources and guides in one place. Use what’s helpful, skip what isn’t, and come back whenever you need to.
Free CV resources
Everything below is free to download. No sign-up needed.
- CV template (Word): a clean, clearly structured layout you can edit and make your own.
- Tailoring Your CV worksheet (Excel): match your skills and examples to what each job advert is asking for.
- CV writing guide (PDF): a step-by-step walkthrough of each section of a CV.
- Disclosure templates (Word): wording you can adapt if you decide to tell an employer you’re neurodivergent.
- Reasonable adjustment request templates for candidates (PDF): ready-made wording for asking for what you need during recruitment.
Writing a CV that shows your strengths
A good CV doesn’t need to be clever. It needs to make it easy for a busy recruiter to see why you fit the role. Our guide on CV writing tips for neurodivergent job seekers goes into more detail, and how to write a CV covers the basics if you’re starting from scratch.
Lead with what you’re good at
Think about the things people come to you for, the tasks you lose track of time doing, and the problems you spot that others miss. Those are your strengths. Put them near the top in a short profile and back each one up with a real example, ideally with a result you can point to.
Keep the layout clear
Use clear headings, a plain font, plenty of white space and short sentences. Two pages is usually enough. A simple layout is easier for people to read and for applicant tracking systems to process, so you don’t need fancy designs or graphics to stand out.
Tailor it to each role
Sending the same CV everywhere is tempting, especially when applying is tiring. A few targeted changes make a real difference though. Pick out the key skills in the advert, use the same words where they genuinely describe you, and move your most relevant examples higher up. The worksheet above helps with this, and our guide to tailoring your CV walks you through it. If you’re also writing a cover letter, try these tips for a compelling cover letter.
Mentioning your neurodivergence is your choice
You don’t have to mention that you’re neurodivergent on your CV, and you don’t have to tell an employer at all. Some people prefer to say nothing. Others mention it because it’s part of their story, or because they want an employer that welcomes it. If you’re asked to an interview, you can ask for reasonable adjustments, such as questions in advance, extra time or a quieter room, without going into detail about why. Our guide to disclosing your neurodiversity at a new job and the templates above can help you decide what feels right.
Once you’re offered a role, the government’s Access to Work scheme may be able to help with practical support at work, and with communication support at job interviews.
Getting ready for interviews
Interviews can feel unpredictable, so preparing answers in advance helps. A clear structure takes a lot of the pressure off. Start with the STAR interview method or the CIRCLE interview method, then practise with some common questions:
- How to answer “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
- How to answer “Tell me about a time you overcame a difficult work situation”
- How to answer “How do you work under pressure?”
- How to answer “Do you prefer to work independently or as part of a team?”
Our interview question practice resource (PDF) gives you space to plan your answers, and these email templates for asking for interview adjustments (Word) make that request a little easier to send. To keep track of where you’ve applied, try our free neurodivergent-friendly job application tracker.
Find a role with a neuroinclusive employer
Enna’s jobs board lists roles from employers who want to hire neurodivergent talent and are working to make their workplaces more inclusive. Browse the latest jobs, or sign up for alerts and we’ll let you know when something new comes in.
Hiring? Neurodivergent candidates bring fresh thinking, focus and problem-solving that give teams a real edge. Post a job on the Enna jobs board to reach them.