Neurodiverse people who are successful
Dear Readers,
When you think of the successful people in the business world, who comes to mind? It may be Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon who has ADHD. It may be Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter who has autism. But did you know that many businesses will refuse to hire people like them? In this post, I will share with you my experience of job hunting as a person with autism.
I was asked to apply for a work placement as part of my college course. I thought it was going to be the easiest part. All I needed to do was write my CV and cover letter and find a job that worked for me. I wanted to focus on showing my true self, explain my advocacy work, and how much of a difference it made for my previous school. But a few days later, I was listening to a podcast called ‘Working It’. The episode featured a guest called Dan Harris, who set up a charity that helps get neurodivergent individuals into work. I was shocked when he said that neurodivergent people struggle to get a full-time job because many businesses think that hiring someone with Autism or ADHD would leave them disadvantaged. Hearing this, I went back to my CV and deleted everything I had written. If they didn’t want to hire me purely due to who I was as a person, then I wouldn’t let them make that choice. Since deciding to hide this part of my identity, I have been given the opportunity to work in one of the best hotels in the country. I have worked with charities, assisting with events and developing fundraising ideas; and I’m only just getting started!
From hearing Dan Harris’s story and the fact that I had to hide who I was to get a work placement, it is clear that people like us will sometimes struggle to find a full-time job. However, judging by the long list of neurodivergent celebrities and entrepreneurs, it is also evident that businesses are missing out on hiring some of the best employees. For example, did you know that Einstein, one of the greatest mathematicians in the world, had Asperger’s Syndrome?
Another great example of a successful neurodivergent celebrity is Emma Watson, known for playing Hermione Granger in Harry Potter. But were you aware that she also has ADHD, and starred in the film whilst on medication? Emma Watson is one of the best-known actresses in the film industry and still achieved straight As in A-Levels before going to Oxford University, despite all her other commitments. This shows that neurodivergent individuals can be just as mature and intelligent as neurotypical individuals. Yet businesses still think that they don’t have the skills to take on the jobs that neurotypical people might do. Many companies still don’t understand our potential, and so many people are losing their chance to show their skills and abilities because of it. We should be the people that businesses fight against competition to hire. But instead, we are the ones that have to struggle because businesses don’t see how much of a difference we can make.
Studies have shown that 73% of neurodivergent candidates keep their disabilities hidden during the selection process, and this shouldn’t be the case. Businesses should learn to accept us for who we are, and find ways to lock individual potential.
Before I go, I’m curious about any other neurodivergent celebrities or entrepreneurs that you know. Have you come across any businesses that are making positive changes in this area?
I hope you enjoyed this week’s blog post, and I can’t wait to see you all back next week!