I still remember how flat everything felt when I left education. Friends were lining up graduate schemes or flying off to travel, and I was stuck at home, unsure where to start and worn out from my final assessments. This was years before I realised I had ADHD, so I put the burnout down to some personal failing and started to wonder whether I would ever live up to my potential.
A decade on, I see it differently. The way my brain works was never the barrier. The traits that made me feel out of step were the same ones that later made me stand out. If I could talk to my younger self, I would tell her to stop trying to look like every other applicant. Here are the things that helped me, and that I wish someone had told me sooner.
1. Follow your interests, or find new ones
When you have no clear path, your interests are the best compass you have. Look for roles, groups and spaces connected to the things you already care about, or to something you have always wanted to try. Love a sport? Join a local team or volunteer at events. Into books? Find a reading group.
Spending time with people outside your usual circle opens doors you can’t plan for. A conversation at a club or event can turn into an internship, a job lead or simply a wider network. We’ve written more about turning your passions into a career if you want ideas.
2. Put your transferable skills on your CV
It is easy to look at a graduate CV and think it is empty because it lacks the “traditional” experience employers ask for. It isn’t. Have you run a fan page, designed your own games or built a blog? That shows creativity, problem solving and the drive to start something on your own, and employers value all three.
Put those projects on your CV and describe them properly. A quick search will help you translate hobbies into skills, from digital marketing to project management. Our guide to tailoring your CV for each application walks through how to do this step by step.
3. Be bold
Standing out sometimes means taking a risk. Contact employers you admire, even if the job advert has closed. A short, genuine message explaining why you care about their work and what you could bring can stay with someone far longer than a standard application.
If you want to go further, get creative. You could put together a short presentation in the company’s branding, or, if video editing is your thing, a quick promo clip that shows what you can do. Most applications look alike, so a tailored one gets noticed.
4. Volunteer
Working for free isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, but volunteering is one of the quickest ways to build experience. My first paid job came out of volunteering in a charity shop. I picked up customer service skills and got to be creative dressing the shop windows.
When I landed my first office interview, I had recent, real examples to talk about, and that made a difference. The careers service Prospects has a helpful overview of the kinds of volunteering open to graduates and what you get from it.
5. Make them remember you
You want interviewers to recall something specific about you after you leave the room. That can be as simple as a pop of colour in what you wear, or a story about a project you obviously loved.
Being neurodivergent already means you think differently, so let that show. Be yourself in interviews. Employers remember people who are genuine and enthusiastic. If interviews make you anxious, our tips on reducing interview anxiety and the STAR method for structuring your answers are a good place to start.
6. Keep learning
Online courses, books and podcasts mean you can pick up new skills for little or no money. Learning something new gives you more to talk about in interviews and shows employers you take initiative.
When an employer is choosing between you and another graduate with similar grades, evidence that you keep teaching yourself new things can tip the decision. It tells them you will keep growing in the job too.
A final word to new graduates
You may feel pressure to blend in and look like everyone else. Don’t. Your interests, your way of thinking and the way you tackle problems are what will set you apart from a pile of near-identical applications. Use them.
How Enna can help you take the next step
Enna runs a jobs board for neurodivergent candidates, listing roles with employers who are actively working on inclusion. Sign up for job alerts and new roles will land in your inbox, so you don’t have to keep checking.
If your CV needs work before you start applying, our CV help page has practical support, and our free job application tracker will help you keep on top of every application once they start going out.
