Of all the recruitment processes and job interviews I’ve been involved in, I think this is the most significant one. That’s probably why I snapped awake at 4am. I did a half day work trial yesterday. I find out in Friday if I’ve got any work. #autism #employability
#jobs #work
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Being 60 in the middle of a global pandemic with millions of people flooding the jobs market isn’t optimal in terms of finding work. Having only recently started to recover from autistic fatigue makes things far worse. 99% of jobs would tip me straight back into burnout.
2/

Care work, with its emotional labour, exposure to bodily functions and core component of “communication” is beyond my capabilities at the moment, although I have done it happily before. Similarly customer-facing work, once copable with but now completely out of my league.
3/

I knew the job opportunity I’m currently being considered for was exceptional as soon as I read the advert. That’s why I spent a blistering hot afternoon at the PC applying before there were too many applicants and it got taken down. I applied as the essential autistic me.
4/

I convinced myself I hadn’t been shortlisted by the time I found out that I had. A phone interview followed, with technical issues, magnifying the impact of auditory processing and hearing loss. But in spite of this it went well, we had rapport, I liked them and they liked me.
5/

On the day of my face to face interview I had little time to get nervous as I worked an early shift in my previous shop job. Just enough time to shower and change after I got home from work and I was back out the door again. I’d left everything laid out ready, time was tight.
6/

I thoroughly enjoyed the interview. Questions were clear and unambiguous. I’d already shared the fact I’m autistic so it wasn’t lurking in the back of my mind waiting for the right time to let them know. I was thanked for my answers. They meant it, I could tell. I left happy.
7/

A long wait followed as more people were interviewed over several days. I tried to put it out of my mind but of course I couldn’t. The next stage would be a chance to do a work trial. I really wanted to reach that stage. It was repetitive work I thought I could do quite well.
8/

At the interview I glimpsed some of the manufacturing processes and was immediately entranced. I wanted to join right in. Yesterday I got the opportunity to. Polishing, smoothing, stacking, folding and straightening soothes my soul. Imagine being paid to do this kind of thing!
9/

So here I am at 5am, wide awake, waiting to see if I’ll get the opportunity to do this job. There’s no doubt the work would suit me, but would I suit the employer? I find out some time on Friday. Whatever the outcome I feel a glimmer of hope. I want to join a production line.
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