Can anyone help me into employment?
You can approach a combination of the following people and organisations for advice, guidance and support as you go through your job search.
Family and Close Friends: This is likely to be the first place to go for help and the place you’ll come back to most often. They are likely to know you and how your autism impacts you better than anyone else.
Wider Circle of Friends: You can often get really good, slightly more dispassionate advice from people who aren’t so close to you. Old family friends who’ve known you or you parents for many years, or friends of friends who work in relevant roles, companies or sectors can be invaluable, particularly if you’re able to talk with them openly and honestly about your challenges and your aspirations.
Mentors: If you know someone (perhaps from within your wider circle of friends) who has some relevant skills and experience and is keen and willing to make themselves available to help you regularly (perhaps for 30 mins once per week) you can work through the job search process together.
School, College or University Careers Service: If you are still in education, or have recently left you may be eligible for advice and have access to a range of books and online resources that can help
Government Careers Advice: provides information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work. There are specialist advisors who you can speak to by phone, or by webchat if you prefer not to use the phone.
Depending on where you live in the United Kingdom there are different organisations that will help you:
- In England – National Careers Service
- In Scotland – Skills Development Scotland
- In Wales – Careers Wales available in either English or Welsh
- In Northern Ireland – Careers Service Northern Ireland
The Jobcentre: You can apply for Intensive Personalised Employment Support through local Jobcentre Plus if you:
- have a disability that affects the work you can do
- are a UK resident
- are unemployed and
- are aged between school leaving age and retirement age.
Another option for disabled people is the Work and Health Programme, which you access through your local Jobcentre.
There may be other organisations based in your local area which can support you in training and finding a job
Check the local offer on your local council website for your area or ask in your Jobcentre.
Employment Agencies: Many people find both temporary and permanent work from an employment agency and many employers ask employment agencies to manage their recruitment for them. If you register for temporary work, the agency will then “assign” you to one or more employers to carry out short term work. For permanent employment, they will act as an intermediary between you and the eventual employer. Some employment agencies will help you get work if they believe that you have skills and experiences that the organisations they work with might value. They only tend to get paid when they place someone into work, so if they don’t think they’ll be able to place you into work, they may not be that helpful or supportive.