Affiliations: A Service of Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), USA
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Melanie Whetzel, Senior Consultant, Cognitive and Neurological Team, Job Accommodation Network, A Service of Office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), USA. Tel.: +1 800 526 7234; E-mail: whetzel@jan.wvu.edu
Abstract: Social skills deficits are common to many individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and can be cause for much anxiety. Because these deficits include interactions with strangers and people in authority, many individuals with ASD have difficulty successfully managing job interviews. When given very specific examples of how to better present themselves and interact with others in an interviewing situation, individuals with ASD become more competent in positively altering their social interactions in employment situations. The keys to improving skills for interviews include understanding disclosure under the Americans with Disabilities Act, being aware of specific accommodations that can be helpful in the interviewing process, having a thorough self-knowledge, being as completely prepared as possible, and possessing verbal restraint. The increased confidence that comes from being prepared allows individuals to relax before and during the interview, transforming a nervous exchange of information into a confident and dynamic presentation of their qualifications.
