As your son or daughter takes their first steps towards entering the graduate job market, you may be wondering how you can best support them during the crucial job interview phase.
Job interviews can be particularly daunting for graduates, and if your son or daughter is neurodiverse, they may have some additional challenges to navigate during their graduate job search.
However, with support, the right resources and encouragement, they can showcase their talents and secure great opportunities.
In this blog post, we will explore some valuable tips on how you can help your neurodiverse son or daughter to shine in their graduate job interviews.
1. Understand Their Unique Needs
If your child was diagnosed with a neurodiverse condition such as Dyslexia, Autism or ADHD many years ago, you may already be familiar with the challenges they face and perhaps some of the ways that they overcome some of their challenges. Take some time to ensure that you understand what challenges they may face during the graduate job search. This could be difficulty with completing numerical tests, or difficulty concentrating during interviews. Have a conversation with your son or daughter to gain a deeper understanding of what they feel they may struggle with and what they may have struggled with in the past.
If your son or daughter has been recently diagnosed with a neurodiverse condition or was diagnosed during their time at university, you both may need to find out more about their condition and identify some of the areas where they struggle and where they may struggle in interviews. Speaking with your GP or Psychiatrist may be useful here.
2. Help them with their Graduate Interview Preparation
The graduate job market is incredibly competitive, therefore, interviews are an important part of the graduate recruitment process. They give graduates the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and to distinguish themselves from the thousands of other graduates with a good degree.
Depending on your son or daughter’s condition, they may experience some challenges during the interview process. As we mention later in the post, there are accommodations that your son or daughter can request to help them to perform well in interviews. In addition to these accommodations, preparing well for the interview can also help your son or daughter to become interview confident.
Work together to prepare thoroughly for the interviews. Help your son or daughter to research the company, The more prepared they feel, the more confident they will be during the actual interview.
3. Use Role-Play to Practice Interview Techniques
Generally, graduates will spend on average 36 minutes preparing for an interview. However, as well as preparing for the interview in terms of researching the company, preparing their clothes and route etc, it is important to practice answering interview questions aloud in a concise and structured format. This may be particularly beneficial for neurodiverse graduates.
Engage in role-playing exercises where you take on the role of the interviewer. Practice asking competency-based questions that are commonly asked during interviews, allowing your son or daughter to respond and refine their answers. This practice will boost their confidence and improve their communication skills.
Ensure that your son or daughter is familiar with the STAR framework, and other common interview frameworks. Knowing how and when to apply interview frameworks will prevent your son or daughter from simply memorising answers to interview questions in the hope that they will be asked, and instead empowers them to be able to answer any question that is asked in a clear and concise manner that will impress the interviewer and demonstrate their communication skills.
4. Support their decision to disclose their condition or not and encourage Self-Advocacy
Under section 60 of the Equality Act 2010, it’s important to note that employers are prohibited from inquiring about your son or daughter’s disability or any specific details related to it.
Nonetheless, there are certain situations where asking about disability or neurodiversity might be relevant, such as when an employer is implementing a positive action program or when disability is a necessary qualification for the job.
Remind your son or daughter that, whether or not they choose to disclose information about their neurodiversity or disability is entirely up to them and should not affect their chances during the hiring process.
If they do decide to disclose their condition to their prospective employer, encourage them to advocate for themselves and communicate any necessary accommodations they may require during the interview. Remind them that disclosing is a personal choice, but it can lead to a more supportive and inclusive interview experience
It’s also essential to emphasise that employers should actively inquire about any adjustments they may require during the various stages of the recruitment process. Their comfort and success during this process are of utmost importance, and employers are encouraged to make the necessary accommodations to ensure a fair and inclusive experience.
5. Highlighting Strengths and Achievements
Hiring a diverse workforce, including neurodiverse employees, brings about a multitude of benefits to any organisation.
Firstly, diverse teams foster a wide range of perspectives and ideas, leading to enhanced creativity and innovation.
Neurodiverse individuals often possess unique strengths in problem-solving and thinking outside the box, contributing to a more adaptable and resilient team.
By supporting the full potential of neurodiverse employees and embracing diversity as a whole, organisations can attain a competitive advantage and achieve greater success in today’s dynamic and globalised business landscape.
With this said, help your graduate identify and articulate their unique strengths and achievements. Emphasise the value they can bring to the company and encourage them to showcase their skills confidently during the interview.
6. Consider Graduate Coaching
Here at Graduate Coach, we have helped 5000+ students and graduates to nail their interviews and to land great jobs. Many of these students and graduates have been neurodiverse.
We can help your son or daughter to identify their skills and interests, create a strong graduate CV, equip them with expert interview techniques and offer them continued mentoring and support as they navigate their early career.
If you are interested in finding out more about how we can help your son or daughter, get in touch with us via our contact form.
7. Post-Interview Support
Regardless of the outcome, be supportive and offer constructive feedback after each interview. Celebrate their efforts and achievements, and help them learn from each experience, identifying areas for improvement.
- Be a good listener – Create a safe and non-judgmental space for them to share their feelings and experiences about the interview. Let them talk about their thoughts, anxieties, and any concerns they may have.
- Offer reassurance: Neurodiverse individuals may experience heightened anxiety in social situations like interviews. Provide reassurance that it’s normal to feel nervous and that the interview is an opportunity to learn and grow, regardless of the final result.
- Focus on their strengths – Remind them of their unique abilities and what they bring to the table. Help them recognise the value of their neurodiversity and how it can be a source of strength and creativity.
- Discuss the interview experience – If they are open to it, discuss the interview experience in a constructive manner. Help them identify areas where they did well and offer gentle feedback on areas they can improve.
- Explore accommodations – If your child has disclosed their neurodiversity or if you know of specific needs they have, discuss any accommodations that could be helpful in future interviews. This might include practising mock interviews, adjusting the interview format, or providing additional support.
- Emphasise the learning process – If the interview didn’t go as well as they’d hoped, remind them that each interview is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Encourage them to take lessons from the interview and apply them to future opportunities.
Conclusion
As parents of neurodiverse graduates, your support is invaluable in helping your child excel in their graduate job interviews.
By understanding their unique needs, providing interview preparation, and encouraging self-advocacy, you can empower them to showcase their strengths and talents confidently. Consider the option of graduate coaching, and remember that your belief in their abilities will bolster their confidence and open doors to promising career opportunities. Together, we can navigate the job market with positivity and determination, ensuring a bright and successful future for your neurodiverse graduate.
Featured image by Albert Rafael from Pexels
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