Journal article 11 views
Learning to dance the interview dance:The job interview as an obstacle to employment for autistic universitygraduates
Brian Garrod 
,
Marcus Hansen
,
Marcus Hansen
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: An International Journal
Swansea University Author:
Brian Garrod
Abstract
PurposeThis study examines how the traditional job interview might form an obstacle to autisticpeople obtaining employment. It then offers a range of strategies that could make thetraditional job interview more effective in allowing employers to identify and hire autisticemployees.Design/methodology...
| Published in: | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: An International Journal |
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| Published: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67160 |
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| Abstract: |
PurposeThis study examines how the traditional job interview might form an obstacle to autisticpeople obtaining employment. It then offers a range of strategies that could make thetraditional job interview more effective in allowing employers to identify and hire autisticemployees.Design/methodology/approachA triangulated, qualitive approach is employed, comprising (i) five focus groups with a totalof 23 students at a UK university who identity as autistic, and (ii) semi-structured interviewswith five of their professional support practitioners. Thematic analysis was then applied toidentify causes, effects and possible solutions of the use of traditional recruitment interviews.FindingsThe analysis identified three main strategies, and two sub-strategies, for refining thetraditional job interview with the aim of assisting more autistic people to find suitable work:abandoning the traditional interview, adapting it (divided in to adjusting and augmenting substrategies),and accepting it as necessary.OriginalityThree original conclusions were drawn from the analysis: first, that while the traditionalinterview tends to be biased against autistic people, it is not in itself a particularly acutemethod for selecting job candidates; second, that the application of universal design toadapting the interview process would be beneficial not only to neurodivergent people, butalso to neurotypicals and employers; and third, that the fear of disclosure represents a majorobstacle to autistic people trusting in schemes intended to assist them. |
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| Keywords: |
Autism; Employment; Interview; Neurodiversity; Universal design |
| College: |
School of Management |