Finding The Best Jobs For Neurodivergence

Featured image by Tima Miroshnichenko, Pexels.com

Blog post updated on 15th February 2022.

Have you ever wondered how you can pursue a career, but your neurodivergence is holding you back? Here are our top tips on how to find a career that will suit your neurodivergence:

Know your spiky profile

Image, Genius Within

According to Genius Within, a spiky profile is a chart that displays IQ going upwards and cognitive abilities going across as well as peaks and troughs. These peaks and troughs represent your strengths and weaknesses. For example, a neurodivergent individual may have strengths in creativity and problem-solving but have weaknesses in time management and planning tasks. The chart has a steadier zig-zag line to represent a neurotypical person’s strengths and weaknesses while the peaks and troughs to represent a neurodivergent person’s strengths and weaknesses are considerably higher and lower.

YouTube: “Exceptional Individuals: What is Dyslexia – What Is Neurodivergence?”

In the Exceptional Individuals video where Nat Hawley explains what neurodivergence is, he shows another example of a spiky profile. He illustrates that a neurotypical person is quite good at reading and writing and is all right with problem-solving; however, a person with dyslexia might find reading hard, but have good creativity skills. Nat suggests that a person of neurodivergence works on their low points before working upwards on their high points.

Look for a job where you can embrace your strengths

Image by cottonbro studio, Pexels.com

People of different types of neurodivergence have different strengths that they can use to flourish in ideal jobs. For example, someone who has autism could have excellent attention to detail, be super-efficient, have good logical thinking and amazing ability to retain information. Ideal jobs for people on the autistic spectrum can include web development, designing content, manufacturing goods, communications management and sorting data.

Refer to articles about inclusive employers 

Image by Lisa Fotios, Pexels.com

Please read this article to find out which companies have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme. It includes a document that lists these companies.

Our blog post about finding inclusive employers mentions a few that have a special diversity and inclusion statement on their websites.

Also, please read our blog post that explains what a Disability Confident employer is.

Visit our website for new job listings especially for neurodivergent people

Image by Ron Lach, Pexels.com

Please visit our Neurodiverse Jobs Board on our website. There are job listings by companies we have worked with such as Ryman and Roche.

Book a 1:1 session at Exceptional Individuals

Image by SHVETS production, Pexels.com

If you need help with finding a career that suits your neurodivergence, you can book a 1:1 session to see any of our team, who will happily discuss any potential options with you.

Due to current government advice to work from home throughout the U.K. in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, 1:1 sessions will most likely take place via video calls.

Think about what other neurodivergents have achieved in their roles

Image by D@lY3D Abdelmaksoud, flickr.com

Richard Branson, who has dyslexia and ADHD, has used his entrepreneurship skills to his advantage by founding the Virgin company while Florence Welch, who has dyspraxia, has embraced her creativity as the lead vocalist of Florence + the Machine for example.