Neurodivergent Community

In this article, we review resources for neurodivergent individuals who are preparing for the job or internship search. Networking, interview preparation, and more are important parts of this process. Knowing which resources are available to you can help you customize your search and boost your confidence. In addition to reviewing this article, we highly recommend meeting with a St. Kate’s career coach to discuss your specific goals and to receive personalized advice.

Celebrate Your Unique Neurodivergent Strengths

Workplaces benefit from a multitude of perspectives. As you prepare for internship and job opportunities, we encourage you to explore and practice a narrative about your cognitive and professional strengths. Mentra, a neurodiversity employment network for technology and data professionals, shares the following as examples. They may or may not resonate with you, but we hope they help spark some ideas as you identify your own strengths:

Utilize the Power of Community Through Networking

Have you ever had a conversation with someone about your professional goals and asked for their input or advice? If so, you’ve already networked! Networking refers to situations in which professionals exchange information in order to develop new contacts or gain insights. Networking can occur in a variety of settings and relationships. While most people picture official events such as career fairs and academic conferences when they think of networking, we encourage you to also think about how you can utilize existing and new contacts to learn more about specific job titles and companies. These contacts might include:

• Current and former classmates and professors
• Current and former supervisors and coworkers
• Alumni of your St. Kate’s major or degree program
• Your family and friends – and their family, friends, coworkers, and more

One valuable area for new contacts is other neurodivergent students and professionals. Exchanging emails, setting up phone or video conversations, or attending workshops within these groups can introduce you to a variety of people who are uniquely positioned to understand and support you. These interactions can also bolster your confidence when approaching new contacts outside of these groups. 

Here are some neurodivergent professional networks to consider exploring:

• Neurodivergent (non)Networking: An example of one of many identity-based LinkedIn groups
• Minnesota Neurodivergent Education Advocacy and Therapy Services: An example of one professional association for MN residents
• Association for Autism and Neurodiversity: An example of one of many national professional associations
• The Neurodiversity Alliance: A student-run nonprofit organization that hosts professional development events and online communities
• Mentra: A neurodiversity employment network for technology and data professionals. Even if you’re not in the tech industry, you may benefit from some of their resources, such as their Neurodivergent Guide for job seekers

We highly recommend conducting informational interviews with professionals who work in roles or fields that you want to pursue. An informational interview is a conversation where you prepare questions to ask a professional in order to gain insights about their role or industry. Check out our Guide to Informational Interviews for tips on conducting outreach and developing questions to ask. A St. Kate’s career coach can also assist you with your networking strategies in a 1:1 appointment.

Research, Prepare, and Practice

The networking and informational interviews described above are an important part of career research and preparation. Here are some other tips we recommend:

Research Inclusive Business Practices

“Inclusive business practices” refers to the strategies and policies an organization implements in order to train and retain employees, including employees who are part of marginalized groups. As you make efforts to learn about employers that interest you, determining whether they utilize inclusive practices can help you figure out if they are supportive of neurodivergent employees. 

Here are just a few characteristics of companies that likely employ inclusive business practices:

• Employee resource groups or support systems
• Staff opportunities for professional development
• High employee retention – meaning most employees stay at the company for a long time
• Company engagement/involvement with the local community
• Flexibility in work modality (on-site vs. hybrid vs. remote)

To learn more about an organization’s practices, you can:

• Conduct informational interviews with current or past employees
• Examine the organization’s mission, vision, values, or DEI statements on their website
• Research the organization’s leaders on LinkedIn and elsewhere online. Look at things like the person’s education, leadership/volunteer work, areas of specialty or specialized training, public statements, or news articles to learn about their values and leadership style

Prepare (and Practice!) for Your Job Search

By taking steps to prepare for your career while you’re still a student, you’ll be better positioned for success after you graduate. We recommend working with a St. Kate’s career coach on topics like:

• Setting up a LinkedIn profile and learning how to use the platform for networking and job searching
• Creating an ATS-friendly resume and understanding how to craft a compelling cover letter
• Preparing for job interviews by discussing interview norms and holding practice interviews

Remember, St. Kate’s Career Development is available to you after you graduate as well. As an alum, you can still meet with a career coach to discuss these topics (and more!).

Understand Job Accommodations

A job accommodation is “an adjustment to a job or work environment that makes it possible for an individual with a disability to perform their job duties.” You may request a job accommodation to enhance your ability to deliver your best work. 

You can arrange a job accommodation by first speaking with the medical or psychiatric provider who treats your condition. Following the stipulations in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), that medical provider writes an accommodation letter to your employer’s Human Resources office stating the types of reasonable accommodations you need in order to perform your job.

If you do not see a medical provider for your neurodivergent condition but would still like to request an accommodation, you can do so by writing a letter of request yourself; however, be mindful that many employers will ask for medical documentation before considering whether to implement your requests.

Accommodations at the Interview Stage

You are legally eligible to request accommodations at the job interview stage if that is something you require. You do not need to disclose medical information at this stage but may choose to if an accommodation during the interview would allow you to best represent your skills. Job interview accommodations for neurodivergent individuals may include things like:

• Receiving interview questions in advance
• Quiet interview environment
• Clear, written instructions
• Option for a written interview
• Breaks during the interview
• The option to use fidget tools
• Extra time for written assessments
• Use of assistive technology for conditions like dyslexia

Accommodations at the Job Stage

You may already have an idea of the types of accommodations you might need in the workplace. If you’re unsure, we recommend utilizing the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) to research accommodation types by disability and read more free, expert accommodation advice.

Your Human Resources department typically works with your supervisor to implement these accommodations.