Last updated on November 26, 2023
What follows is the letter I wish I could send to prospective employers.
Dear Employers:
I want to work. I would be a dedicated, reliable employee. Give me an opportunity and I’ll prove my value.
Previous cover letters focused on my academic and professional qualifications. However, during interviews it becomes clear that search committee members perform online searches and realize much of my work relates to autism and neurodiversity. Someone inevitably asks, “What led to your research interests?” Sometimes, the interviewers mention autism specifically. “Is someone in your life autistic?”
Anyone having searched online already knows the answer – and is carefully framing a question meant to prompt disclosure. Since the interviewer cannot ask directly, they allude to my disabilities and other unusual traits.
I am autistic. I do not hide that as an online public figure. My published research has addressed the experiences of neurodiverse individuals with technology and media. I’m also the parent of two neurodiverse children. Yes, I advocate for accommodations and inclusion through my research and as a public intellectual.
If interviewed, your committee will notice my autistic traits. My blunt, concrete honesty likely will be misunderstood. If you’re looking for a “social fit” within an organization, autism is perceived as a social skills deficit.
I have been asked about my interest in social activities with coworkers. Answering honestly likely hurt my chances for follow-up interviews. No, I don’t care about movie nights, pizza parties, or the company game room. One interviewer seemed hurt that I wasn’t interested in some of the extravagances in the workplace. A lot of explanations have been offered for why I don’t get hired. I’m not a good “fit” is the most common.
Impress me by respecting my neurodiverse experiences. Accept that I am incredibly productive, often from within a dimly lit office with quiet music blocking other inputs.
After interviews, I’ve been told I should smile more and appear more enthusiastic. Would you say that to other candidates? I know my facial expressions and vocal patterns rarely convey excitement or joy, and I look angry, upset, or intense to others even when I am content. Listen to my words, not my tone or body language.
Autism myths aside, I am a polymath. I don’t have a single narrow, special interest. Instead, I like to find connections among different fields. If you value cross-disciplinary, creative solutions to problems, that’s how I approach challenges.
Learning excites me. I have a doctorate, a master of fine arts, a master’s degree, and two bachelor’s degrees. I also have stack of certifications, from business education to video editing. I’m not a specialist; I’m a knowledgeable generalist.
Trying to be one thing during interviews exhausts me. I can do several things well, some things very well. I can shift from database development to the history of Continental philosophy. I love quantitative rhetoric as much as I enjoy digital media production.
At the end of interviews, I’ve been told I’ll be bored in a job. No. Like most people, I’ll pursue other interests outside the workplace. I know programmers who are members of orchestras. I’ve met a theoretical mathematician who loves acting in community theatre.
I’m not going to give 60 hours a week to a job. Instead, I’ll hyper focus and give you 60 hours’ worth of work in a few days, and then I’ll need to recharge. Judge my value by projects completed, not hours clocked on the job.
I should not have to beg employers to “look past” the autistic me. It is offensive that interview committees cannot be direct with their concerns. They fear an autistic isn’t up to working among them as a peer and colleague.
No, I won’t be charming. I won’t bring a sunny disposition into the office. What I will be is a creative problem solver, someone who seeks solutions to challenges. If you care more about social fit and personalities, then you don’t have a workplace that embraces neurodiversity. I might as well know that up front.
Yes, I am a 52-year-old autistic male with some physical limitations. I’m sure ageism and ableism work against me. Autism adds an extreme barrier to the job search. Approximately 85 percent of autistics lack full-time employment. Most are unemployed, relying on their friends and family for support. We deserve better.
Give me a chance. I will be working another 15 to 20 years, and those could be years solving problems for you and your customers. It would be nice to have an opportunity to prove my capabilities.
I know the chances I hear from you again are slim. I needed to tell you why that might be a mistake.
Thank you,
C. S. Wyatt