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Garrod, B and Hansen, M (2024) Learning to dance the interview dance: the job interview as an obstacle to employment for autistic university graduates. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal. ISSN 2040-7149
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Learning to dance the interview dance The job interview as an obstacle to employment for autistic university graduates.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (359kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Purpose: A significant autism employment gap persists in many countries. This study examines how the traditional job interview might form an obstacle to autistic people obtaining employment. It then offers a range of strategies that could make the traditional job interview more effective in allowing employers to identify and hire those who have an “autism advantage”. Design/methodology/approach: A triangulated, qualitative approach is employed, comprising (1) five focus groups with a total of 23 students at a UK university who identity as autistic, and (2) semi-structured interviews with five of their support practitioners. Thematic analysis was then applied to identify causes, effects and possible solutions. Findings: The analysis identified three main strategies, and two sub-strategies, for refining the traditional job interview by reducing or removing the obstacle it presents to autistic people seeking employment. These comprise abandoning the traditional interview, adapting it (divided in to adjusting and augmenting sub-strategies) and accepting it. Originality/value: Three conclusions were developed from the analysis: first, that while the traditional interview tends to be biased against autistic people, it is not in itself a particularly acute method for selecting job candidates; second, that the application of universal design would be beneficial not only to neurodivergent people, but also to neurotypicals and employers; third, that the fear of disclosure represents a major obstacle to autistic people trusting in schemes intended to assist them.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Additional Information: | This author accepted manuscript is deposited under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC) licence. This means that anyone may distribute, adapt, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, subject to full attribution. If you wish to use this manuscript for commercial purposes, please contact permissions@emerald.com |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 1503 Business and Management; 1608 Sociology |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business H Social Sciences > HM Sociology L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education |
| Divisions: | Liverpool Business School |
| Publisher: | Emerald |
| SWORD Depositor: | A Symplectic |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Sep 2024 10:15 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Sep 2024 10:15 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1108/EDI-10-2023-0339 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/24074 |
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