Microblog Memes

These days you're called different with a sexy word neurodivergent when you tell the truth.

Like this person I also find this strange. And like this person I also have problems during job interviews. I mean, I'm not bullshitting you and I expect you to do the same. But alas, it's often bullshit and lowballing all the way.

It's only wrong if you get caught!

I find it entertaining that the criteria for neurodivergence includes telling the truth.

This is when you call them directly and tell them that. They can override the automation.

I’d like to be
Under the sea
In an octopus’s garden
in the shade

I'm not technically NT but I have ADHD and I don't have problems picking up this sort of neurotypical social cues.

When I interview people myself, I'm extra wary of catering to ND people, and for questions like this, I phrase them very carefully to mean what I want to ask:

"Why do you want to work for us? I'm sure there were other jobs out there that would result in a salary, but what made you apply for this one specifically?"

I make clear in the conversation that I want to know their motivation, their alignment to the specific role, and not the fact that they need money to live. I already know that! So I tailor the questions to give me exactly what I need even if the person is, say, autistic and takes things in the most literal way.

This post has, however, made me realise that in the job posting I have open right now, I'm going to add a note in the vein of "this is a wishlist of all the things the ideal candidate would have, but we acknowledge nobody is ever a 100% perfect match - feel free to apply even if you only meet some of the criteria as you might be more qualified than most applicants".

Hit them back with "why do you want to hire me?"

For me, getting the interview is the hard part.

I've never interviewed for a job where I didn't get the offer. I can't say exactly what works for me, but I can explain my process a bit.

First off, I go in confident. a lot of that probably had to do with my history with interviews, but that's the first part.

Secondly, I look at it as me interviewing the company. I want to know the company is right for me. To that end, I ask a lot of questions about the position and the team. I ask if they're looking to fill a hole or are willing to have the role reinvented.

Obviously, that last bit is for taking a unique role in the comment, not just as cashier number 23.

I am also clear that I'm not looking to remain in that position forever. I want to work at it a few years and move on, wither within the company or elsewhere. I won't bail in 6 months, but I also won't do the same job with no evolution for 10 years. My career needs to grow.

Essentially, I try to interview in a manner where they're trying to win me over instead of weed me out.

I'm my current job, I was relaxed, got the interviewers talking family and casually about the projects, started giving feedback on issues as if I was already on board, and essentially changed it from an interview to a group meeting.

It turns out I was asking for about 30% more than my competition, but they gave it to me anyway, and it all came down to making myself feel like a member of the team they wanted to hold onto rather than just someone looking for a paycheck.

And I'm absolutely there for the paycheck. I liked my old job a lot more, but I got like a 60% pay bump going to the new job.

I swear my company has one list of requirements for all jobs. Every time I am part of the hiring process I have to correct it

Get out of here with your smart and reasonable take!

You got nothing to lose by applying.

Nothing to lose but your sanity.