I originally wrote this on a LinkedIn post a couple of weeks ago, but I feel it deserves to be said again, even if I didn’t get the job!

Virtual Interviews for the win!

There are many ways that the pandemic heralded changes that were neurodivergent-friendly: hybrid working, learning about personal space, normalising not wanting to be touched, and, my favourite, the McDonalds app 😂

I have a job interview at lunchtime today. I’m sat in my PJs, eating breakfast and running through my presentation. I hope to shortly receive the interview questions, two hours in advance, as a requested accommodation.

And I’m calm.

Sort of.

There are still things that can go wrong:

– Dodgy internet
– Power cut
– Barking dogs
– Panic attack

But what I don’t have to worry about is:

– What to wear, particularly on my feet (all shoes are awful, I can be barefoot)
– Driving (tiring for my ADHD brain)
– Traffic (stressful)
– Getting to the right place (something I failed to do on my last interview due to a Google Maps error)
– Where to park
– How to get into the building
– Finding a bathroom
– External distractions in a new environment
– Somewhere to put my notes to help me focus
– The technology for sharing my presentation

Well, actually, that might crop up, as it has before, so I’ll email it over beforehand just in case. [As an aside, I did have difficulties sharing it, and was very glad I had emailed it in advance).

But you get the idea.

Teams interviews aren’t perfect. I have auditory processing difficulties, so sometimes it’s easier in person (where I can lip read). I don’t always know when it’s my turn to speak. It’s harder to avoid prolonged eye-contact. I dislike seeing myself on camera. Did I mention noisy dogs? 🐕

But the point is, the choice is there.

Interviews are hard for everyone, but particularly for neurodivergent people. And I for one am happy to be doing this one in my own office.