Would you mention your SN kids in a job interview?

[SilkStalkings]

Just planning ahead for when Ds2 starts full time school this autumn. I think being an SN mum is a great illustration of some valuable personal skills that would be good for plugging myself eg patience, perseverance, calm in a crisis/under pressure, speedy assessing of an environment/person's moods, organisation etc.
But I know not everyone's had diversity training and might assume a mum with SN kids will be rushing off at the drop of a hat and be unreliable.
What do people think?

Absolutely do not mention it!

You shouldn't be asked any questions about your children and you should not volunteer that information.

TBH if they know you have a vjild with SNs you'll be very unlikely to get the job as you will be perceived as unreliable due to family committments.

No. Most people won't understand enough about caring for a child with SN to see the positive skills you describe. They will only think the latter. Sorry.

Nope. Never ever mention it. It positively screams "needs lots of time off work" in a job interview. And it's absolutely none of their business.

Hmm. I employed a lady who talked her about autistic DS at interview. I took her on due to her excellent skills. Yes, she did explain she would have to whizz off if 'DS has a meltdown and school ring'. In reality this happened 3 times in 5 years.

No. Unless it was directly relevant to the role. I.e a requirement to have recent working knowledge of the SEN COP or understanding the demands of carers for example. All other things I really wouldn't.

Unless it was relevant, no.
Family circumstances should have no bearing on your ability to do the job, and for every 'nightsky' willing to take a risk, there are a dozen or more employers that will be put off because of their assumptions about what being the parent of child with SN means.
Will his autism impact on your ability to do the job?

As a 1:1 TA, it's quite useful to have experience of DC with SN, but in almost any other job, I'd say don't mention it.

Zzzzz, I don't think of myself as 'more' of a parent, but I have certainly developed more skills parenting a child with ASD than NT.

But I think that woukd be a poor sell at an interview. It's like saying you have excellent measuring skills because you bake cakes. Unless you are trying to proove commitment to a catering role you'll just look desperate.

Do you think that any of our other halves say that at interview? I think not!

I work for myself now purely because my employer did NOT understand and I was slowly pushed out. I think if I was going to get another job with an employer I would not say anything, consider my own timetable and only look for a job that I could cope with around my children even if it was just PT, or full time with enough money to pay for proff childcare.

There are not many employers that are risk takers nowadays and a lot cant afford to be and sadly they will look for bums on seats as opposed to anything else.

I just want to add another perspective. I am a partner in a professional practice, and as such technically self employed, but I both mentioned by child at the last set of interviews I had, and it was a positive. I would also consider it as a positive if someone I employed mentioned it. Because it does take a lot or organisation and commitment.

Now I know the conventional wisdom is not to say anything, but it does depend on the job/field etc. I need flexibility to cover medical appointments and emergencies. I asked for it, and I got it. My partnership were interested in what i had to say, and it was a bit of a talking point. In return I give flexibility. I have a 24/7 kind of job and am always on the end of a balckberry, but in exchange for that I also always take my son where he needs to go.

I also think it counted in my favour to be honest and open whatever the law says

Suppose I could ask the non-SN version of the question on a different Parenting board and get the same answer. I'm just coming at it from a Sahm point of view, justifying my 8yrs out of work. An HR lady one told me that the multitasking skills of being a mum were valuable - was she being naive or sexist? And being a mum of 3 seems to make people assume I am extra organised etc. ((stamps foot)) Why can't I use the positive stereotypes to my advantage?

I dont know. Maybe its because of where I come from that it isnt all high flying stuff. Jobs are few and far between and much of down here is ignorant of SN anyhow, say yes they are supportive but then when the crunch comes even though I was open I was still reduced to part time or lose my job, was still made to feel I was letting the team down even though I put in overtime to compensate and didnt take salary for the times I had off for appts.

Perhaps in the cities companies have med insurances, nursery vouchers etc and overall more flexibility I dont know. I know I wouldnt open my mouth again thats all because the job did not warrant it and it gave them an open excuse to use me as a scapegoat for when deadlines were not met by the rest of the team wether I was involved in that deadline or not. :)

If it was an added string to your bow as in a SN position then yes I would say something.

I suppose if I was going to use an example of my skills and it was the only example I could think of. I have just got a job after 10 years as a SAHM, but they knew my DCs, so I could use examples of my skills as they could verify their accuracy!
tbh, what did you use as examples of your abilities when you applied for jobs before DCs? Organisational skills etc can be just as well described by organising a holiday, research/negotiation etc finding good insurance deals - you probably have more skills than you realise without mentioning children at all.

I do mention, and i think it has been positive.... but these are social work, and teaching social care roles, so relevant experience. I would also need to mention cos it has shaped my work history, as far as working part time for last 5 yrs...

I did, and the fact I was a single parent but it was a job these were relevant to , I also had been a SAHM for four years and my voluntary work for the support group I belong to bacause of DD's SN's was my most recent work experience. I t did help in my case and my manager was then pretty good about time off for appointments , but the SN stuff was directly relevant to the role.