Our guest content writer, Holly, shares her experience of job hunting as a Neurodiverse candidate and advises on the whole application process, from writing a CV to the final interview.
Job Searching with Dyspraxia
I’m not an expert on dyspraxia, but I am an expert on my own dyspraxia and the difficulties I have experienced when looking for and holding down a job. Everything from writing a CV in a chronological order to organising my thoughts at interview can be a problem. So, let’s get started. I want to share the strategies that I have come up with to help me deal with them in case they might be helpful to you, too.
1. Keep your CV up to date
It’s easier to add one thing than write it from scratch each time. It’s good to keep a generic cover letter too, this will be easier to adjust for a particular company, rather than writing a new one each time. If you are anything like me and you struggle to layout your CV in a clear way, you can take the stress out of building one by using an online CV format. You can find CV formats online that you just put your details onto. Here’s a a free site with a range of different CV formats for you to choose from.
I also recommend using bullet points instead of long paragraphs, as this makes it easier to organise your thoughts and still allows you to put in the key information.
2. Ask a friend to check your CV
Before you submit your CV to a company, ask a friend or family member to check your CV over. It never hurts to have another pair of eyes look over what you have written, especially if you’re like me and you struggle with working from your most recent job downwards. Try to keep a CV to a maximum of two pages; employers will thank you, too! Ideally you want to put no more than your last five years of employment history on your CV. Remember, you are writing a CV not an autobiography!
3. Narrow your job search
When searching for a job online start by narrowing down your search criteria as much as possible, so that you’re not overwhelmed by too much information. Use key words that match the job that you’re looking for and narrow down your location and job type. If you are looking for jobs on job searching websites, always make sure you click on the ‘date posted’ in the search area. This allows you to start with most recently posted jobs. These will have longer application times, which is helpful if the application process takes you longer.
4. Make a list from the job description and specification
Once you have the application, take time to carefully read it as well as the job description and person specification. Make a list of each duty listed on the job description, leaving a space in between to write one example of how you meet it. You can do the same with the personal Specification. I find that writing mind maps can be a very clear way of organising your thoughts and easier to read back than notes. These can help you to decide whether you’re a suitable candidate for the job when thinking about your strengths or experience.
5. Use the STAR method to answer questions
The little nugget of gold that I would offer you is, use the ‘Star Method’ when you are filling out your application form (it helps you to think about answers to questions by talking about the Situation you were in, the Task you had to do, the Action you took and the Result of your action). This enables you to give good quality and clear answers and also works really well when you are answering questions in interview and you are having trouble organising your thoughts.
6. Give yourself time to check before submitting
Give yourself plenty of time to re-read and edit your application before the deadline. This will help you to avoid making mistakes or unnecessarily repeating yourself. Again, don’t be afraid to ask someone to read it through to check that what you have written makes sense. I know when I am tired and focusing on something, I can find it hard to clearly articulate myself.
7. To disclose or not to disclose? That is the question?
I have always disclosed my dyspraxia on the application form and at interview. It is entirely your decision. You can ask for reasonable adjustments to be made at interview, if necessary, either on the application form or by contacting the company’s Human Resources department directly. An example of a reasonable adjustment is that you might need extra time at interview to organise your thoughts.
As well as explaining how my dyspraxia is likely to affect me in the role, I always highlight the strengths that I have as a result of my dyspraxia e.g. great determination to succeed and good problem solving skills as a result of having to find solutions when my dyspraxia gets in the way.
Don’t leave application writing or interview prep to the last minute. You will thank yourself if you have given yourself time to re-read your application to refresh yourself on the answers you gave.
It can also be helpful to set an alert in on your phone calendar or your paper diary to remind you when the interview is coming up.
8. Check your journey to the interview (if in person)
Do a trial journey, so that you don’t worry about getting lost on the day. If map reading is an issue, Google the building where the interview is taking place to help you find it. I find that doing a trial journey before the day of the interview really helps to reduce my anxiety, because at least one part of the day will be familiar.
9. Prepare the night before the interview
If you are applying for a role which requires you to have certain qualifications, you will probably be asked to bring them with you to your interview. Pack important documents that you might need before the day of the interview, when you are less stressed. I find that it can be helpful to keep them all in one folder, so you can access them easily the night before. You don’t want to be searching through cupboards at the last minute, looking for your passport or your National Insurance card.
10. During the interview
Once you’re in the interview, don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat the question or rephrase it if you need them to. Once the interview is over, you might be asked if you have any questions about the role or any information they have shared during the interview. It can be useful to prepare one or two questions that you want to ask prior to the interview. This will demonstrate your interest in the job role. I often find it hard to retain what they have already told me about the job during conversation, but you could always ask when you are likely to hear their decision.
Okay, so now I have gone through the job searching process with you. I hope I have given you some useful tips for navigating the job searching process as someone with dyspraxia. I would love to hear from you about any tips that you have found helpful in your own journey of job searching with dyspraxia.
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