Job-hunting tips for students/graduates with Autism

Posted on 18 March 2026 • Career planning

It’s much harder for people with Autism to find the same information; everyone else just seems to magically know things! Victoria, OU graduate with Autism

Job seeking can be demanding for anyone, and students with Autism also tell me about some unique challenges they face. As an OU Careers Consultant, here are the top three tips I give the students with Autism I speak to:

1. Get in the right headspace

Read our Help Centre page Build your future with career confidence and complete some of the activities and get an inventory of all your transferrable skills, strengths and interests. You will already have developed many of these just by being an OU student. Students with Autism often mention not being sure if employers would be interested in them and also focus on what’s difficult for them or what they CAN’T do. A more positive way to start your job-hunting journey, however, is by listing your skills, interests and talents, and all the things you CAN do.

2. Find the right workplace

Read this excellent article Autism Friendly Jobs on The Autistic Boss website to help you search for the best workplace for you. Students with Autism sometimes ask me what the “best” job roles are for them. The same job title can vary a lot depending on the employer, however. A more useful question is “What would the ideal work environment look like for me?” For example, flexibility or predictability might be important to you.

If you don’t think working a 9-5 graduate job in an office is for you, there’s plenty of other possibilities. Many students try out roles by volunteering or completing an internship, to build their work experience , or choose jobs that are part-time or home-based.

Another question to ask yourself is whether you want to mention your Autism to an employer and ask for reasonable adjustments There’s no right or wrong answer as it’s about what is best for you.

3. Know what help is available

Read more about where and how to look for jobs  and make use of our  interview tips to help you prepare.

Finally, here’s Victoria, an OU graduate with Autism*, talking about her experience of working with OU Careers and Employability Services to help with her job search: “OU careers advice helped me by explaining graduate schemes, and by advising me to look outside of mainstream job listing sites, sending me well-structured job-seeking resources, including listings for part-time work, jobs for the disabled, and remote work.”

*Disclaimer: The student asked that “person-first” language is used when describing her, whilst acknowledging that this is a personal preference, and that others may prefer different language to be used.

 

Alison Skellern is an OU Careers and Employability Consultant with over 30 years’ experience of supporting adults and young people with achieving their career goals, providing Careers Education curriculum support to schools and colleges, and lecturing on a range of Careers Education and Guidance qualifications.  At the OU, Alison helps students achieve their ambitions and fulfil their potential through one-to-one appointments. She works with a range of students and alumni as well as specialising in working with Students in Secure Environments.