"Begging" during job interview

cazziebo

Bear in mind it's a difficult job market; many people are going for lots of interviews and getting nowhere, despite having the requisite skills.

In the past I might have taken a risk with a candidate who I thought deserved a chance. Unfortunately, that's less likely to happen now, resources are just too tight.

You have to focus on what you bring to the job. You got a First? Well done - that sets you apart from many other candidates. How did you get it - working hard, able to identify solutions, interpret responses? Look at all the skills you have that will mean something to an employer.

I've employed several people with Aspergers/ASD (and my partner has Aspergers) . It can be a positive. My OH might never run a company, or even manage anyone else, but he is a brilliant programmer who will get the job done, won't be distracted by office politics, and won't be constantly on the look out for a career move.

I agree with Faerie Spangles- I'm wary of people who make a big thing about any disability or other issue at interview. if you are going to mention it, do it in positive terms.

Best of luck.

blossomhill_2

I have experience of interviewing for CS - the interview is based on you providing clear examples of what you have done that fits the skill they are looking for - you can use this time to touch on your limitations but turing them into positives to prove what you have done in life, not necessarily in any previous employment

eg Can you give me an example of when you have worked in a team?
You; yes, I was a venture scout and worked in a small team of leaders on scout camps
Them:how did you lead
You: I followed the training from the venture scout training I had attended, planned the activities meticulously and took part in feedback sessions to the camp leader and rest of the team
Them; was there a time when your teamwork was challenged
You; yes, one young scout teased me about my hesitant speech
Them; How did you deal with this
You: I consulted the scout leader and we agreed a successful strategy for me dealing with it
Them: did this work
You: yes

If you are not successful you will be given feedback on what areas need improvement

Good luck - it is important to stick to facts at CS interviews (my limited experience of Aspberegers makes me think that this may suit you well)

Stick to facts about YOU
Avoid saying We did this, we did this - what did you do?
Avoid saying I would do this - what did you do?

CS interviews aren't about airy fairy "what can you bring to the workplace" they are about your past experience being an indicator of future performance - there is no space in there for begging.

You could however ask, when they ask you if there is anything you want to know "do you have a robust equal opportunity policy in place?" if you wanted an opening to mention the Aspbergers

Also, have an example ready of what you could have done better - don't try to portray yourself as perfect, if asked you can always say "with hindsight I could have consulted the leader a bit earlier" or "my activities lack a bit of spontenatiety so I consulted the rest of the team about introducing ad hoc activities"

Added:

I have been interviewed for the same department three times before. I have seen the same person all three times, (they recognised me the second and third times)

We had this exact situation at my workplace - what we looked for in the second and third interview of the same person was that they had addressed the issues we had advised them about at feeback from previous interviews - they hadn't!
We had recommended they went on an interviewing skills course - they hadn't.
We had recommended they prepare some clear concise answers to the questions we are likely to ask based on the job spec - they still rambled on for England, so they didnt get the job.
We had recommended they stop using acronyms when talking about their current job, as they mean nothing to outsiders - they still used them and it was meaningless to the panel
So please, don't think the interviewer is being unfair, if they have told you why you failed before, they will expect you to have taken their advice about how you could succeed, not just turn up again and repeat basic mistakes

PS If the adjustments you would need are for the job not the interview, ask for them after you are offered the job, not at interview

DKLS

cazziebo wrote: »

I've employed several people with Aspergers/ASD (and my partner has Aspergers) . It can be a positive. My OH might never run a company, or even manage anyone else, but he is a brilliant programmer who will get the job done, won't be distracted by office politics, and won't be constantly on the look out for a career move.

Likewise I have employed coders with aspergers and if it was up to me I would only hire coders with aspergers as the aspire traits are awesome traits for coding, similarly a friend of mine owns a design agency and for creative roles he prefers to hire dyslexics.