Tips for handling interview questions for people with Aspergers/ASD

For people on the spectrum interview questions can feel like traps or pointless. We will take them literally or answer in ways that do not promote our best value. Here are some tips to solving that problem.

When someone asks you "tell me about yourself" in an interview what do they mean? As someone with Aspergers I was always under the impression they meant "tell me about yourself". It turns out that even if they mean this the question is really a way for you to take over the conversation and direct it the way you want.

So, let's try this again... "tell me about yourself". Your response should be work oriented and specifically stressing areas at which you excel. You should start with a general comment tied to the position you are interviewing for like "I am an excellent pastry chef" [assuming you are applying for a pastry chef position] and then follow it with the single biggest achievement in your life related to the general comment. If they allow you to go further mention your second biggest accomplishment. After that ask a question that draws them into the conversation... something like "do you have need of someone who can do <biggest accomplishment>?"

Amazingly this same formula works for "what did you do at company x?" Lead with your biggest accomplishment at the company in question. Many of the general pithy sounding questions asked in interviews call for this response pattern. Even when asked "do you know y?", if you know it you talk about it in terms of your strongest accomplishment using y.

Practice this pattern at home. List out your accomplishments and role play your way through an interview answering with the accomplishments. Maybe even time yourself to make sure you do not drone on. These tips work and will make you stand out in an interview.

Global Business Etiquette Help

Wrong Planet is one of the most aptly named internet resources for ASD and Aspergers as all of us feel like we are strangers traveling in a strange land. As such we seek guidance on how to deal with the social and business mores of this strange culture we are in.

Kwintessential has thumbnail guides on the business etiquette for various countries that can help demystify it a bit for us especially if we have to do business abroad.

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/etiquette/doing-business-in.html

Their general Etiquette, Customs and Protocol Guides are useful too: http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/country-profiles.html

Networking Tips For Introverts - maybe they work for ASD too?

For most of us on the Spectrum our issues go beyond mere introversion but some of these tips will help just the same.

Six Easy Networking Tips for Introverts 

Note: tip #1 works well for interviews too

Tips for employers to accommodate an AS employee

Say you find an employer who is willing to hear about how to work with you or someone asks "How do I accommodate an Aspergers employee?" You could send the AskJan site but that might seem a bit intimidating to them since it is the US Department of Labor. My Aspergers Child has a wonderful post on ways an employer can accomodate an AS person in the workplace: http://www.myaspergerschild.com/2009/06/dealing-with-aspergers-employees-what.html

Phone interview tip: stand up

Phone interviews are difficult for many on the Spectrum as it introduces a flat sounding medium between us and the interviewer (although in some cases that might be a help). There are dozens of tips floating around out there about how to make a phone interview go well; some are easier than others.

One quick thing I have heard, tried, passed on and received great feedback on is to stand during the phone interview. It stretches out the diaphragm and strengthens the voice. I started doing that for business calls too and it has been helpful.

One thing though, don't pace. Once I became out of breath from nervously walking and had to answer questions about that.

Social Media: LinkedIn Tips

For those of you with a LinkedIn account here is a list of 10 tips that help increase the success and impact of your LinkedIn Account when doing a job search.

http://blog.linkedin.com/2009/04/02/ten-tips-to-enhance-your-job-search-on-linkedin/