Do you ever feel like you’re working twice as hard for the same results? You might have hidden neurodiverse talents that just haven’t been recognised yet. This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a time to empower those with unique brains to realise and reach their full potential. Read on for top tips from Anna Masefield, Account Manager at Evenbreak.
For many, ‘neurodivergent’ is still a pretty new term yet it affects up to 20%* of the population. That’s a staggering 1 in 5 of a class or one-fifth of a company’s employees. In this Evenbreak blog, we want to address one aspect that is rarely addressed and often little understood: Neurodiversity’s potential super talents. Read on to find out more about two neurodiverse people’s experiences.
Jennifer
Jennifer’s secondary school reports consistently read ‘she tries hard’. She felt she was having to put in twice the effort to get the same results as her peers and was left feeling frustrated, mentally exhausted, and academically inadequate. Yet if teachers had requested a visual representation of a supermarket floorplan from when she was 6 or 7 years old, she could have drawn it out.
Her parents knew the truth – she was bright and had numerous talents to offer. She simply experienced and interacted with the world around her differently. What she needed was help to identify her potential and to thrive in her future career path. This is where Evenbreak’s Career Coaching service came in.
[Assessment determined that Jennifer had dyslexia, plus a very high IQ – it was simply not the ‘norm’. Click here to read related Evenbreak blogs.]
Hadley
School for Hadley had been boring and chaotic. It was only when he started an internship, he realised that not all learning or work environments were the same. This company appreciated his attention to detail and analytical skills and could accommodate his needs, such as allocating him a quiet desk in the corner and making it ‘Hadley’s’ whilst other colleagues hot desked. His workplace also established a contemplation room, where lights could be dimmed, if he or anyone else ever needed.
He was set up for success by this inclusive company as they valued him. This initial internship then became a graduate role and full-time employment.
[To learn more about ADHD and Autism, as well as related resources, go to the Hive.]
Alternatively, you could be further on in your career and only now discovering your neurodiverse talents. For example, because your child or children have been assessed or because you have read an article on social media that resonates. It’s never too late to discover your talents and turbo-boost your career. Read on for 4 top tips to discover your neurodiverse super talents.
1. Ask your family and friends
It can be difficult to identify your own strengths, and often neurodiverse people will focus on their weaknesses or skill gaps. So, ask a family member, a close friend, or even a trusted work colleague for their thoughts.
What strengths are we trying to identify? This could be a mixture of skills, such as good interpersonal skills, positivity, or a love of detail and spreadsheets as well as qualifications and experience in a role.
Initially, you might start quite broad and then combine several ideas into more specific trends. For example, being ace at word searches and always knowing where your partner’s keys are could translate into good spatial awareness.
2. Make a record and research
Make a list or mind map. Consider if any talents stand out and appeal to you in terms of a career direction or could be valued in a specific profession. For example, interpersonal skills for customer service roles, and attention to detail for a data analyst role. Then search up roles online to learn more and cross reference with your listed talents. It might mean you add a further talent or tweak one slightly in its terminology.
If unsure about role types, you could try searching by a specific skill. For example, “‘analytical skill good for what jobs’ or “best jobs for analytical thinkers’” to learn more about opportunities and if that is potentially one of your super talents.
3. Take advantage of available resources
If still struggling to identify your neurodiverse talents or prioritise them, consider getting some professional advice too. For example, take advantage of Evenbreak’s free Careers Coaching service and talk with one of our experienced Career Coaches.
Get advice to help you identify possible career routes, and the qualifications needed (if any), or to help you take that next step in searching for a job and applying.
There are also an increasing number of resources available online, including via Evenbreaks Hive, to help signpost you to numerous career-supporting charities & organisations, assessment tools, employer events, and more. Plus, many are free to access!
4. Sign up for Job Alerts
Another way to help determine your talents is signing up for Job Alerts.
On a job board, such as Evenbreaks, have a look at the various categories you can refine your job search by, including Sectors and Roles. For any that particularly appeal sign up to receive alerts. (You can always update these.)
Then review the roles that you receive by email and look at the skills mentioned.
If it seems a good fit against the ones you’ve identified for yourself, or it’s one that’s relevant but so far overlooked by you then note it down and hopefully it will help give you a steer.
What are your neurodivergent talents? We hope this blog helps you in your quest to identify your super talents and your career.
Please help spread the word and help others too!
#NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek #NeurodiversityWeek #NCW
Anna Masefield, Account Manager
Feedback welcome:
- Was this blog helpful? What would you like to know more about? And are there any particular topics around neurodiversity, job searching and applications that you’d like to read? Let us know so we can consider future related content.
- Or are you an employee, needing some assistance so you can support a neurodiverse colleague to thrive? If so, do get in touch with our Team so they can help signpost you to resources and discuss potential webinars and training opportunities.
Sources:
*Neurodiversity: the power of thinking differently, Author: ICAEW Insights Published: 22 Mar 2023.
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