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Jonathan Fielding
Getting Started in Tech
As a Neurodivergent Engineer
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“Neurodiversity describes the idea that people
experience and interact with the world around
them in many different ways; there is no one
"right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving,
and differences are not viewed as de
fi
cits.””
Harvard Health - What is neurodiversity
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When peoples brains work differently from the
norm they are referred to as neurodivergent
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It is estimated that around 1 in 7 people are
neurodivergent in the general population
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If we look more speci
fi
cally
at workers in tech that number
increases to 53%
Source: Tech Talent Charter Diversity in Tech Report 2024
General Population Tech Workers
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Beamly
Snyk
Autism
Assessment
Spendesk
Crayon
M&M
University
College
Dyspraxia and
Dyslexia
Assessment
RVU
Legend
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My journey helped me understand what
I needed to do my best work
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Things to ask
yourself
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Do I prefer structure
or
fl
exibility?
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Do I need quiet
time or collaboration
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What support do I
need to do my best
work
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What kind of people
energize (or drain)
me?
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Remember, you are
fi
ltering out suitable
companies
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Finding companies
that meet your
needs
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Where to Start Your
Job Search
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Focus on what
matters in Job Ads
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https://app.welcometothejungle.com/jobs/zmgg-ufw
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Try to think of the job
ad as a wishlist
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Look Beyond the Job
Ad
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Check Glassdoor,
LinkedIn, or Reddit
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Ask friends, mentors,
or alumni
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Pay attention to how
they treat you in the
interview process
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Red
fl
ags to be wary of
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Confusing or ghosty communication
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No mention of support or
fl
exibility
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You feel like you have to “perform” a different
version of yourself
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Green
fl
ags to look out for
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Transparent job ads
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Flexible working policies
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Support for mental health, disability, or access
needs
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How do I apply
for a role
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How you apply will vary from company to
company
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How you apply will vary from company to
company
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How you apply will vary from company to
company
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Your CV isn’t just a
list – it’s a pitch
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Lead with impact:
results, not
responsibilities
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Tailor it to the job
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Make your CV
friendly to skim
reading
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Asking for
Accommodations
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Interviews are about
performance under
pressure — not
everyone thrives there
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Accommodations let
you show your real
skills
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You’re not asking for
an advantage, you’re
asking for fairness
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?
What sort of accommodations can I ask
for
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Interview format in advance
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Written questions alongside verbal
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Breaks or longer time to respond
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Take-home instead of live code
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Captioning / transcription
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Turning off camera
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You don’t need to disclose to get these
accommodations
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The
Interview
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Arrive at the interview 15 minutes early
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Be prepared to introduce yourself
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If you don't understand a question make sure
you ask for clari
fi
cation
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If some of the accommodations you asked for
are not in place feel free to raise it with the
interviewer
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Ensure you ask questions based on what you
want to get from the company
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Dealing with
Rejection
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Often people who are Neurodivergent struggle
with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
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Its important to remember that often rejection
isn’t personal
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Its therefore important you build strategies to
bounce back from that rejection
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You have been
successful
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Take your time
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Ask follow-up questions
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Go back to your
fi
lter
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Its ok to negotiate your offer
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It’s okay to say no
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The best offer is the one that feels right
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Settling into
your new role
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? Your
fi
rst week
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Give yourself time to avoid becoming
overwhelmed
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Write notes on how the onboarding
experience could be better in future
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? Advocate For Yourself
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“Self-advocacy is speaking up about what you want.
It’s about making sure that your wishes and needs
are made clear to another person, and ensuring you
have the same chances in life, the same rights, and
are able to make the same choices as everyone else.”
Neurodiversity Hub - An Introduction to Self-Advocacy & Self-determination Skills
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Self Advocacy isn’t about being dif
fi
cult, its about
ensuring you have the same opportunities as
everyone else
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Use ‘I need’ rather ‘Can you’ statements
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Share what you are comfortable sharing
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Only
3%
of tech workers disclose they are
neurodivergent
Source: Tech Talent Charter Diversity in Tech Report 2024
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Give feedback on what is working and what
isn’t
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Wrapping
Up
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Find a company that works for you
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Your CV is a pitch, not a list of tasks you have done
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Accommodations unlock your best self
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What do I need to do my best work?
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Further resources at: jonathan
fi
eld.ing/birkbeck
Please feel free to ask any questions