Being Unemployed

I. Choose The Right Problem

  1. Productive Awareness - Be aware of the unemployment rate, causes, and any challenges for your neurodivergence demographic so that you can set personal goals which are reflective of your valid version of normal.

  2. Know Thy Self - Avoid taking advice without knowing 1) why they specifically think you should do it and 2) their understanding of what happens when you do not follow their advice. Being neurodivergent, their advice might not work for you, or it may not be your priority because of the unique position you may be in. Weight the advice of:

    1. Well-regarded people who understand how to cultivate a reputation
    2. With the career you wish to have
    3. And a relatable personality
      …higher than advice by others because it may be more likely to work for you.

  3. Minimize Risk - Leverage strategies which focus on mitigating the risks from falling into your risk categories.

  4. Invest In Yourself - Make sure you split your time so that you can apply to jobs sustainably.

  5. Have A Plan - There is more than one way to make a living! Also be aware that unemployment has a relationship to developing mental health problems as well as suicidality. Having structure and a plan can be protective against this risk.

II. Good Career Plans Can Include:

  1. Income needed to live
    • Full-time
    • Part-time
    • Contracting
  2. Structure
  3. Work which has meaning, whatever that means for your values.
  4. Investments
    • You can get financial advice at your bank.
    • Make sure to ask them if they get “units” for certain products they pitch to you, and ask what they are! It will let them know you know more than you do and have them play fairly.
    • Work with someone you trust; you are more likely to apply the advice. If you took the time to collect the recommendation, avoid working with individuals you will not respond to anyways.
  5. Volunteering work
  6. Networking
  7. Training workshops

III. Where to Find Work

Be open to doing your search differently from others. As someone from a demographic with less executive functioning and higher unemployment, you must be open to prioritizing platforms which will are more likely to match you properly, using as little energy as possible to apply. Stanford University is doing a study on Autism and employment programs which some may be eligible for!

  1. Look at neurodivergent-specific recruitment platforms: Mentra, My Disability Jobs, Specialisterne, and Inclusively.
  • Neurodivergent and disability-specific hiring
  • Likely to foster an unmasking-friendly culture
  • Filters for roles with relevant attributes
  1. Indeed
  • Upload your resume and wait for companies to come to you.
  1. Wellfound
  • A website for startups seeking hires
  • Get promoted faster in a smaller company
  • Find a place where you can use your hyperfocus in
    • … an unconventional environment
    • … with less established conventions
    • … perhaps without a formal HR department!
  • Add stability to your earnings by negotiating a settlement package in the case that the startup company fails when you are hired.

IV. Additional Resources

Canada

V. AI Aids

  1. Multipurpose Support
    • JobHunnt
    • Wonsulting
      • Networking: provides specific profiles and guidance on how to reach out to hiring managers on LinkedIn based on your desired position and company. (free)
      • Resume (paid)
      • Cover Letter (paid)
    • CareerHubAI
      • Discover career paths (free)
      • Personalized career advice (free)
      • Estimate your worth on the market (salary) to help you negotiate better.
      • Resume Writer (paid)
      • Cover Letter Writer (paid)
  2. Personalized Position Recommendations
    • TheJobForMe; This tool automatically recommends results and directions based on your resume or LinkedIn profile. It suggests keywords to summarize your expertise and aligns you with relevant positions you may not have considered.
    • Rec;less
  3. Resume Support
    • Jobscan
      • Scans your resume
      • Provides recommendations for skills to emphasize
  4. Cover Letters
    • Use ChatGPT to predict the sort of cover letter an employer will be most responsive to; “Write cover letter for [position text or url]”. Regenerate results as needed.
      • ChatGPT will likely reveal the degree level and field the job posting is likely looking for. It can help you see if you are a good fit.
      • Edit the letter to be more compatible with what you bring to the table.
      • Write letters that are more likely to convey the details that your employer would be most interested in.
      • Disclaimer: An AI output is never a substitute for direct feedback from a good career advisor.
    • Careered AI This AI is specifically trained to help you write cover letters.
  5. Personalized Coaching
  6. Professional Headshots

VI. Suss Employers Out

Did you know your boss has more of an impact on your mental health than your therapist?

  • “I noticed on your website you mentioned X. Can you tell me more about that?” @advicewitherin
    • Family Values: Are they going to support you if you have a kid?
    • Health and Wellness Benefits: Do they offer discounted massages and gym membership discounts?
  • “Do you offer any opportunities for professional development, growth, or upward mobility?” @advicewitherin
    • Are you going to stay stuck in your role?
    • Do they promote by tenure, rather than competence? This means, if you do good work, will you be rewarded?
  • “What was your favourite day working since you started here and why?” @advicewitherin
    • Would the interviewer even recommend working for their own company?

Footnotes

  1. If it does not work for you, how would you know their strategy failed?↩︎

  2. What if your CV and your interviewing strategy were not the problem?↩︎

  3. If you have a high unemployment rate and expect your search time to last longer, how do you expect to last if you do not spend a good amount of your day doing things you enjoy?↩︎

  4. How will you make a good impression if you are burned out and miserable?↩︎

  5. + thrive↩︎

  6. Consider this combination of mechanisms for achieving these three in a neurodivergent-friendly way.↩︎

  7. Low risk index funds which outperform inflation, unlike your checking and savings account.↩︎

  8. Though Neurodivergent Upgrade was founded by an economist, we are not authorized to give financial advice.↩︎