Working with Aspergers

It is an experience that many Aspies face. You are in a job interview and suddenly the interviewer comes to the medical history part or your personal statement/CV. They see the words Asperger Syndrome and they mentally recoil in horror as if it were a contagious disease or somehow suggests that you are completely incompetent. Nothing could be further from the truth, and yet this sort of ignorance is widespread. No matter what nationality you are; it seems to be the same everywhere. The obvious solution would seem to be not to put the fact that you have Aspergers down on the form. That however would be a colossal mistake.

                Firstly, you are just shooting yourself in the foot if you do this. Many employers appreciate honesty almost as much as they abhor deceit in their applicants. There is the probability that they will find out later. The kind that would turn you down for having Aspergers is not the sort that you want to work for. Under EU regulations, this comes under discrimination and they will be liable to legal action. It is much better that they know who you are as then they can ensure that you settle in better; for reasons outlined later, this does not require much effort on their part.

                Secondly, an Aspie is quite often an asset. Those who work in their field of ‘special interest or SI’ will almost certainly be amongst the leaders in their field. Many Aspies’ SI’s are computer related (mine, alas, isn’t) and I challenge you to find a major software or technology firm that does not have a large proportion of Aspies in their ranks. I can also guarantee that Aspies are amongst their best employees. As well as their immense skill in their SI, Aspies generally love rules and regulations and so misbehaviour is highly uncommon. I won’t go over the speed limit for example. I just can’t. I also refuse to be late; it really irks me, and I will make every effort to get to work on time. We also tend to focus on our work, as a wild social life is not something that corresponds with being an Aspie! On a side note, I have personally found that always splitting my working life between two part time jobs is the key to a happy and healthy one. It’s a bit like the concept of risk-bearing economies in economics - essentially you should never put all of your eggs in one basket. If you drop said basket then you have no eggs for tea! Better to divide them up between several baskets so that if you drop one, then you always have the others. Thus, if I have a really crappy day at one job, then I have a day at the other to find some normality. Trust me, it works wonders. I’m not saying take two serious jobs; I have one serious one and one menial one. I’m lucky in finding these jobs, but if you get the opportunity to do this I would highly recommend it as a coping strategy.

                Lastly, Aspies are usually content being stuck in a rut. We don’t like change, it scares us. That may sound like a negative, but it’s really a plus. For example we generally don’t need a promotion every so often in order to keep us interested in or loyal to the firm that we work for. I am quite happy doing what I am now doing, and by the time most will have moved on to new pastures, I will still be content being where I am. The Aspie’s love of rules often develops into a strong sense of morality. This can manifest itself into a sense of loyalty to the firm that they work for, and Aspies will often go above and beyond the call of duty.  

I am not saying that those with Aspergers will be the perfect employees. There are drawbacks, but it’s the same with normal people. There are always pros and cons. What I have attempted to do is show that someone with Aspergers should not be rejected at the door. Take a little time to understand their situation and you could be hiring one of the best employees you’ll ever see. Equally the individual may not be suitable for your particular field, but this is true with any individual. People skills and communications may be a problem for the Aspie, but they can be learned, even before applying. An Aspie is never going to be a smooth operator, but they can be adequate for your needs. If you are an employer reading an application and you see the words “Aspergers Syndrome”, don’t recoil. It’s not infectious, it can however, be an asset. For Aspies, my main piece of advice is, as usual, know your weaknesses and accept them. There are going to be things that you cannot do and don’t let your ambition or dreams lead you into trouble. You have a gift, use it sensibly.