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Original poster

IT jobs for autistic graduates

61 replies

BigBoysDontCry · 28/01/2024 19:51

Just wondering if anyone has any decent links for finding a job in the IT field in Scotland?

DS is autistic (diagnosed) and his main issues are social anxiety/initiating conversations. He's anxious but OK if people speak to him, struggles to keep a conversation going.

He graduated in October 2022 in Computer science. He was just too overwhelmed at the time to be able to apply for graduate roles, he was late graduating as he was on a masters programme but couldn't complete that as he needed an internship which he couldn't get.

He's been doing a couple of night-shift shelf stacking shifts a week.

He hates it but understands it's better to keep a job.

Ultimately he wants to live independently but he'll need an income (and support).

I can find things for him to apply for but all the disability confident stuff seems to be based in England and requires hybrid working in the office.

Yes, I know he should be looking himself but he just gets bogged down and can't choose anything. If I give him a few options he'll happily apply.

Anyone know any good places to search or companies to try?

OP posts:
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Wbeezer · 30/01/2024 20:30

My neighbours daughter ( ASD/ADHD)recently got her first ever job as data analyst for £40,000. Hybrid working. She did a geography degree and then a masters in Data analysis . She used this consultancy - Diversita to help with finding a job.

macedoniann · 30/01/2024 20:37

Also to add OP I know quite a few people doing very well with their own phone/PC repair businesses. Something to consider as well.

R.e. communication, I wouldn't be worried when a job advert lists 'communication' skills. That's just basic HR fluff. The actual interview will be more of an issue. They can make reasonable adjustments such as providing interview questions in advance, being more direct with wording but the trouble with these 'standardised', competency-based hiring processes is that ultimately you still have to answer to an acceptable standard. They cannot make something up, that he hasn't said.

Smaller places , individuals have more autonomy to make hiring decisions.

The other thing in IT there are lots of ways to contribute online. Has he done anything like contribute to open source outside of his degree?

Original poster
BigBoysDontCry · 30/01/2024 20:39

Wbeezer · 30/01/2024 20:30

My neighbours daughter ( ASD/ADHD)recently got her first ever job as data analyst for £40,000. Hybrid working. She did a geography degree and then a masters in Data analysis . She used this consultancy - Diversita to help with finding a job.

Thanks for that, I was wondering about suitable agencies.

OP posts:
Original poster
BigBoysDontCry · 30/01/2024 20:54

macedoniann · 30/01/2024 20:37

Also to add OP I know quite a few people doing very well with their own phone/PC repair businesses. Something to consider as well.

R.e. communication, I wouldn't be worried when a job advert lists 'communication' skills. That's just basic HR fluff. The actual interview will be more of an issue. They can make reasonable adjustments such as providing interview questions in advance, being more direct with wording but the trouble with these 'standardised', competency-based hiring processes is that ultimately you still have to answer to an acceptable standard. They cannot make something up, that he hasn't said.

Smaller places , individuals have more autonomy to make hiring decisions.

The other thing in IT there are lots of ways to contribute online. Has he done anything like contribute to open source outside of his degree?

Edited

Yes, that's what I'm worried about re communicating. However, I've been working on him messaging me when he has an issue so I can then either message back or can go and talk to him. That would work in a work environment too as long as they were able to accommodate. It obvs doesn't work so well in the supermarket environment where people aren't sitting at a PC, using email/teams etc to message.

I have talked with him about doing pc repair/building but again, it really falls back on me to facilitate or at least set up the customer side of it. Between work, splitting up, some issues with his brother and some personal health issues I've not had the bandwith to support as much as I would want to.

As for whether he gets involved in stuff on-line the answer is No (as far as I can determine) Honestly I don't think he actually has too much of a passion for it, he just happens to be good at it but I could say that for many things. He doesn't have a passion for anything as far as I can see. He's not lazy, he's just a bit lost so kinda faffs about doing bits of different things.

He'd enjoy it more than shelf stacking though, he needs something to stretch his brain. He started teaching himself a foreign language but otherwise I think he just games and works on his PC.

Something where he is given short projects or where he supports (but doesn't take calls) would be good.

OP posts:
Fraudornot · 30/01/2024 21:01

Following

Daisymay2 · 30/01/2024 21:03

I was going to mention Diversita as well, there was an interesting article in the i newspaper last week about them. Their “front page” majors on ADHD but also cover autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Dyslexic DS is looking at them, he has developed anxiety as well since he started his current job.

LoveSandbanks · 30/01/2024 21:07

DXC has a programme to attract autistic people with IT qualifications. It’s called the dandelion programme. They have an office in Erskine but an awful lot of their staff wfh.

Original poster
BigBoysDontCry · 30/01/2024 21:10

Daisymay2 · 30/01/2024 21:03

I was going to mention Diversita as well, there was an interesting article in the i newspaper last week about them. Their “front page” majors on ADHD but also cover autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Dyslexic DS is looking at them, he has developed anxiety as well since he started his current job.

I'm thinking it might be useful for DS2 as well (diagnosed dyspraxic or whatever they call it nowadays). He's looking to take a break from his final year at uni and getting a job instead, as I said, he's a whole thread of his own...

DS1 is also incredibly patient and tutored DS2 in maths.

He has started volunteering at Scouts and loves it. He loves all the camping and that sort of stuff. The leader he works with has known him his whole life and understands his limitations but he is apparently incredibly useful and he does well with the kids but is no use at discipline...

OP posts:
Original poster
BigBoysDontCry · 30/01/2024 21:11

LoveSandbanks · 30/01/2024 21:07

DXC has a programme to attract autistic people with IT qualifications. It’s called the dandelion programme. They have an office in Erskine but an awful lot of their staff wfh.

Thank you 😊

OP posts:
Wbeezer · 30/01/2024 21:13

@Daisymay2 my friends daughter featured in that article. She's doing really well.

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