What you will learn on this page:
Autism and your neurodiversity strengths!
By using brain scans we can see that there are differences in how brains think, learn, and process information and this is called neurodiversity.
Autism is a neuro-developmental condition that affects how a person is able to learn and make sense of the world, process information and relate to other people.
Everyone's experience of autism is different as it is a spectrum. Often people who are on the autistic spectrum may have specific strengths in areas they find easy and enjoy, that other people often find very difficult. Many employers are recognising the strengths that people with neurodiversity can bring to their organisation, and are changing their work environment to make it easier for people with autism to get in and do well in a career they want.
Some strengths of people on the Autistic Spectrum
Do you have any of these strengths? Or maybe you have other unique strengths.
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
- Ability to concentrate on a task for long periods of time
- Enthusiastic especially if working on tasks and projects that I find engaging
- Expertise in a specific area of interest.
- Accuracy and attention to detail.
- Good with facts – I enjoy research
- Memorising information
- Tenacity and resilience to challenge opinions.
- Punctual, reliable honest and loyal
- Good at looking after animals
- Interested in caring for the environment
A selection of jobs
Tap any job below to see the full career profile on the National Careers Service website – including what the job involves, what it pays, and how to get into it.
See more jobs...
Check out more than 800 other job profiles. The above list is just a selection of jobs where your autism talents will be valued, there will be loads more!
These job sectors might be good places to start if you want a job where your autism talents will be valued, there are jobs in lots of other sector too, click through to the job profiles to find out the details.
Finding a Job
Many employers understand the benefits of a neurodiverse workforce - and are seeking employees who can offer different ways of thinking and problem-solving. As a result many have specific neurodiverse recruitment schemes you can apply for. They are also able to make adaptations to the work environment to make sure it suits you too.
- Ambitious About Autism helps young people with a variety of schemes to help them get into employment by giving them the opportunity for paid work experience and internships with organisations such as the Civil Service and the NHS.
- The National Police Autism Association aims to encourage a culture of neurodiversity in the UK police force.
- Software companies who specifically support people with autism to apply and have specific Autism programmes to support people in their jobs - SAP, Microsoft and Civil service
- National Autistic Society provides job coaching and employment opportunities by advertising vacancies for companies who are keen to recruit employees - eg HMRC, Vodaphone and JP Morgan.
- This video is by someone who is neurodiverse talking about how Seetec, her employer helped her in the recruitment and settling in process. Have a look, you could show this to a prospective employer to help them understand your needs https://youtu.be/JVzwxE-Q9T8
Further Information
Tedx - Embrace the Potential of Autism - Lars Johansson-Kjellerød
Genius Within- To find out more about neurodiversity and developing your strengths
