OARacle Newsletter

For autistic adults, having a mentor when navigating a competitive job search can make all the difference. Hire Autism celebrates the success of a recent job seeker, Max, who shared how pivotal his navigator, Rose, was in helping him secure meaningful employment.

One of the most impactful aspects of his mentorship experience was hands-on assistance with his resume. “My navigator helped me edit and refine my resume to stick out more, have machines be able to read it, and improve the quality of it,” says Max. These resume adjustments helped optimize his materials for applicant tracking systems and enhanced the chances that hiring managers would see his applications.

Max also requested help with interview preparation, noting that it was the most helpful part of his mentorship experience. He shared that practicing for his upcoming interviews “helped me calm the nerves I got and helped me prepare quality answers for common routine questions.” Practicing his responses paid off because he prepared answers in advance for several of the questions he had in the final interview. “I think it was the biggest reason why I ended up securing this job,” he shares.

However, what stood out most to Max was the personalized approach Rose took to support him. He says, “For me, it was that the navigator took the time to understand and see me as a whole person and figure out my goals and passions rather than quickly put me in a box.” This holistic approach allowed Max to be in the driver’s seat of his search and practice self-advocacy and independent decision-making.

With Max in charge of his job search, he could look inward and discover what prevented him from acquiring or maintaining employment before coming to Hire Autism. “I learned more than anything that my biggest pitfall in interviews and workplaces is that I lack self-confidence when most of the time, I don’t have any solid reasons to do so. So, I need to be more confident, trust myself more, and be humble, but also not shy away from my accomplishments,” he says.

This is the essence of the Hire Autism Navigator program. Navigators aim to help autistic individuals recognize their strengths and worth, celebrate their successes, and advocate for their needs. By providing encouragement and positive reinforcement, navigators empower autistic adults to believe in themselves and their abilities, which can directly affect their performance in the workplace and how they self-advocate.

Max was offered and accepted a full-time position with United Way in the Utility Services Department. In this role, Max “helps process applications and deliver assistance to people that are struggling to pay their electric, gas, and water bills.” Additionally, he is able to instill what he has learned in individuals who need assistance advocating for themselves to utility companies.

Rose expressed her pride in Max’s hard work and dedication to refining his resume, cover letter, and interview skills and his determination to find the right role. “While the journey may take longer than expected, your perseverance and hard work will ultimately pay off,” she advises future job seekers.

Similarly, when asked if he had advice for fellow job seekers, Max says, “It’s certainly tough out there, but there’s a place for you somewhere in the world. Although having autism presents challenges, many employers will be understanding and willing to meet you halfway for you to succeed. If they aren’t, it isn’t a place you want to be anyway. Being in a workplace where you are accepted is more important than anything when it comes to your success, mental health, and career goals.”

If you are a job seeker looking for support, our Hire Autism navigators are happy to help! Learn more about working with a navigator here.

Are you interested in getting involved as a navigator? Apply here to join our incredible team of professionals, “each striving to make a difference one person at a time,” says Rose.