Some Support • Mid-Career • Goal 1:
Prepare for a Promotion or Job Change
Action step 1.
Review work-related "soft skills."
While every job requires different technical skills and knowledge, success in any field also depends on soft skills. These include things like work ethic, teamwork, organization, willingness to learn and creative problem solving. Consider which soft skills might be needed if you change jobs and how they align with your strengths. In some cases, you may have to ask your employer for accommodations to address your differences in soft skills.
Resources
Words to know
Action step 2.
Update your resume, cover letter, references and LinkedIn page.
Depending on your work experience, you may or may not have prepared a resume and cover letter. A resume is a document that summarizes your experience, skills and qualifications for a position. In a cover letter, you express your interest in a specific job or company and describe what makes you a good candidate.
Before applying for a new role, make sure that your resume and cover letter are up to date. You should list any new work experience, education, awards and special skills you have developed.
You should also update your list of references — people you have worked with in the past or who have served as a teacher, mentor, group leader or peer. Contact each reference to let them know that you are seeking a new job, and always ask for permission before using someone as a reference.
Lastly, if you have a LinkedIn page, you should update it with your recent work experience and change your settings so that recruiters and people in your network know you're looking for a new job.
Resources
Words to know
Action step 3.
Prepare for job interviews.
After you apply for a job, you might be contacted for a phone, video or in-person interview. Sometimes, there are multiple rounds of interviews with different people in the company.
Job interviews can be stressful, but they are just a type of conversation that gives you and the employer a chance to find out if you are a good match. Remember — this is your opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the organization, workplace environment and company culture.
Some autistic people find that working out answers to common interview questions and practicing through role-play helps them stay calm and feel more confident.
Resources
Action step 4.
Review your benefits package.
If your interviews go well, you will receive a job offer that outlines your salary and benefits package. For full-time workers, this typically includes:
- Health insurance, including medical, dental and vision. Often, companies have several health insurance options at different price points and levels of coverage.
- Retirement benefits. A 401(k) is a voluntary retirement savings plan that lets you set aside a percentage of your income for retirement. 401(k) contributions are taken directly from a worker's paycheck, untaxed, and are often matched by an employer. The most common matching rate is 3%, meaning that if you contribute 3% of your salary, your company will put the same amount into your 401(k).
- Life insurance. Many employers offer life insurance in the amount of the employee’s salary at no charge to the employee.
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). These are pre-tax accounts you can use to pay for healthcare-related expenses.
Before making a final decision about a job, you should closely review your benefits package. You may be able to negotiate your offer if you feel that you deserve a higher salary or better benefits.
Resources
Words to know
Action step 5.
Learn about the terms of employment and other key characteristics of a potential new job.
Getting a new job or accepting a promotion brings a lot of change. Even if you're considering a new position within the same company, it’s important to think about how key aspects of the job might be different than what you're used to. You'll likely have new responsibilities, a new manager and a new team.
Before you sign a contract or make a final decision about a new job, be sure to review the terms of employment in the new job contract with a support person. These include things like salary or pay rate, work hours, benefits, remote work policies, time off, termination and other company policies. You may be able to negotiate your contract if you feel that you deserve a higher salary or better benefits.
Other key characteristics of a job are not included in the employment contract, but are equally important when deciding to change jobs. These might include:
- Social expectations
- Communication and management styles
- Commute
- Sensory environment
- Workplace culture
Resources
- From the Autism Speaks Employment Tool Kit - What Job is Right for You?
- From the Social Security Administration - Thinking about a Career Change
- From Nationwide - 6 Questions to Ask Before Changing Jobs
- From Business Insider - 11 Questions to Ask Yourself if You're Considering Switching Careers
- From The Muse - How to Negotiate Salary?
