Job Searching as a Neurodivergent Individual

Hello, my name is Dana. All my life, I’ve had a fondness for animals, particularly aquatic animals and marine life. Like many others, I originally thought I was going to become a veterinarian when I was younger. When I realized that was NOT going to work for me, I turned towards informal education. I went to Michigan State University and successfully earned a degree in marine biology (along with a couple minors in marine ecosystem management and museum studies). After I graduated, I was fortunate enough to land a job as an educator in an AZA accredited facility in Florida. Since then, I’ve been sharing stories about fish and other ocean wildlife for the past four years.

I am also neurodivergent, although I have not been formally diagnosed. Based on years of self-reflection and research, I believe I am somewhere on the AuDHD or ASD spectrum. I’m proud of my neuroidentity and all of the ways it has shaped me as a person and as a member of the zoological field. In my current role, I wear many different hats. I work as part of a rather large facility spanning multiple areas. Because of this, on any given day I can be casually educating everyday guests, delivering behind-the-scenes tours, training new hires, or even coordinating daily operations. I’m never the type to “settle,” so the day to day changes and unique scheduling tends to be more stimulating for me. Due to my marine background, I have become the go-to “fish person” for my coworkers. I’d also say that my career has greatly allowed me to improve my interpersonal skills over time, to the point where I can genuinely say that I enjoy talking to people! I’m very lucky to be surrounded by a great team of peers, including others who share my neuroidentity. I’ve truly settled into my role, and my coworkers can attest how much I enjoy making bad puns and silly dad jokes. I sincerely adore all of the animals I see every day and enjoy sharing my knowledge with others. My job is a personal point of pride while also providing a lot of security for me. 

However, with a lot of the recent happenings going on in the US, I have been increasingly looking to move elsewhere. I often say that if my job was completely isolated like the Vatican, I’d be more than happy to stay in Florida. Since that is sadly not the case, I’m left looking for other opportunities. Job hunting already presents many difficult challenges, regardless of neurodivergence. Endlessly searching and refreshing job boards. Filtering out jobs that will actually allow you to live while still being emotionally fulfilling. Completing multiple applications that are all completely different from each other and require substantial amounts of time to make “just right.” And after all the time and effort that goes into the whole application process, there’s the nerve-wracking wait to see if you’ll even get an interview. These are not challenges unique to the zoological field. Considering how small and competitive the zoological field is though, all of these issues feel compounded on top of each other.

Now, let’s add in the layers of anxiety, depression, and extreme frustration that are amplified by my neurodivergence. It can be extra taxing going through the application and interview process, which feels more like an exercise in how well I can mask or perform in front of others. I am already an introverted person who needs time to open up and unmask. When I only have a thirty minute Zoom interview to demonstrate why I’m the best candidate for a position, sometimes I fail to really “click” with the interviewers. With all of the other daily tasks I manage in my current role, my executive dysfunction makes it harder to pay attention to application deadlines or to check job listings. I also struggle with rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), which heightens any feelings of inadequacy or imposter syndrome. The frequent disappointments from each rejection make it even more difficult to cope and recover. Additionally, there is an ever present anxiety that once I leave the security of my current team, my new place of employment may not be as welcoming. I know I am not alone in these feelings from talking with my peers, and I’ve ruminated extensively on why the process is so convoluted in the first place. 

Given that I have been on the job hunt for over a year, I have picked up a couple tricks to ease the process. I have learned how to proactively expedite the application process as much as possible, without sacrificing the quality of my submission. I have taken numerous courses through my employer to build up my resumé writing, interviewing, and networking skills.  Most importantly, I’ve built better coping strategies to help whenever I get rejected or ghosted. However, despite these tools, there is a lingering resentment that I (along with others in my situation) have had to constantly adapt when this shouldn’t be necessary in the first place. So, what can employers do to make their job application process more accessible for us? In my reflections, I don’t think there’s one simple answer. But here are a couple small steps that I think would help:

• Streamlining the application process to reduce the time required to submit resumés/cover letters so there’s less frustration in repeatedly typing out the same information over and over again. 

• Employers can use more clear and consistent communication with applicants during every step of the application process, especially when an applicant is not moving forward. 

• Finally, offering specific actionable feedback for applicants afterwards so they can consciously know what to improve on for the future. 

      Some of these items require a bit of extra time and effort from the employer.

However, I think that if an employer is expected to receive a certain amount of respect from potential applicants, then the reverse should also be true. I also recognize that it will take time for any of these changes to happen. Therefore, we must continue supporting each other, sharing resources, and celebrating the victories as they come. And if nothing else, I hope that this reflection will bring comfort to those who may be feeling similarly.