The Neurodivergent Job Candidate

Marcia Scheiner is the President and Founder of Integrate Autism Employment Advisors (Integrate), co-author of An Employer’s Guide to Managing Professionals on the Autism Spectrum (2017), and frequent speaker on autism employment. Prior to founding Integrate in 2010, Ms. Scheiner held senior management positions in the financial services industry. Ms. Scheiner is a graduate of Wellesley College, Massachusetts and has an MBA from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, New York. She is the parent of an adult son with autism. Tracy Powell-Rudy is a contributing author of this book. Joan Bogden is a Content and Media Training Coach and the President of Blonde ‘n Blue Productions, as well as the co-author of An Employer’s Guide to Managing Professionals on the Autism Spectrum (2017). She has over 30 years of experience in the communications and training industry and has a BA in psychology from Vassar College. Ms. Bogden received an MA in clinical psychology from Fordham University, where she was also a published researcher and a doctoral candidate in that field.

Acknowledgements; Introduction; How to Use This Book; PART 1: UNDERSTANDING THE ESSENTIALS; Chapter 1 - What Should I Know to Get Started?; The Myth of the "Normal" Brain; Neurodiversity 101; The Language of Neurodiversity; The Language of Autism; Disclosure; Chapter 2 - Why Hire Autistic Professionals?; Business Benefits; Economic Benefits; Societal Benefits; Chapter 3 - Are Neurodiversity Hiring Programs Necessary?; The History of Neurodiversity Hiring Programs; Hiring Approaches; Where Do You Find Autistic Talent?; Launching your own program; Chapter 4 - The Autistic Jobseeker: Not Your Typical Candidate; The Unwritten Rules of the "Hidden Curriculum"; Theory of Mind; Sensory Sensitivities; Anxiety; Chapter 5 - Differences in Autistic Thinking; Disorder, Disability or Difference?; Seeing the "Big Picture"; Reasoning and Decision-Making; Executive Functioning; The Importance of Previewing; PART 2: RECRUITING AUTISTIC TALENT; Chapter 6 - Screening Techniques for the Atypical Resume; Job Fit; The Myth of the Computer Geek; The Atypical Resume; Work History; Chapter 7 - Does Your Company Embrace Neurodiversity?; Appeal to the Broader Autism Community; Become an Employer of Choice; Avoid Job Description Jargon; Simplify the Application Maze; Chapter 8 - Sourcing Autistic Jobseekers; Campus Recruiting; Effective Use of the Internet; Sourcing Partners; The Autism Community; PART 3: INTERVIEWING; Chapter 9 - The Autism Factor in Interviews; The Importance of Appearance; Ways of Speaking; Turn Down the Volume; Chapter 10 - Interview Alternatives; Non-traditional Formats; Interview Practice Modifications; A Word about Virtual Interviewing; The Interview Process: A Different Perspective; Chapter 11 - What Are You Evaluating? Mindset Versus Skillset; Mindset; Mindset of the Autistic Candidate; Interview Questions; Artificial Intelligence; PART 4: THE FIRST 100 DAYS; Chapter 12 - Getting the Candidate to "Yes"; Making the Offer; Drug Testing; Reference Checking; Relocation Assistance; Chapter 13 - Onboarding New Hires; Onboarding vs. Orientation; Orientation; Onboarding; Chapter 14 - Preparing Your Organization for Success; The Supportive Workplace; Education and Training; Manager Support; Office Environment; Social Distractions and Demands; Chapter 15 - Performance Issues; The Role of the Hidden Curriculum; The Role of Executive Functioning; The Role of Anxiety; Epilogue; APPENDIX; Example 7.1 - Job Description; Example 7.2 - Job Description; Example 7.3 - Job Description (Before); Example 7.4 - Job Description (After); Example 11.1 - Rephrased Interview Questions; Example 13.1 – Mentor/Mentee Guidelines; GLOSSARY; REFERENCES