{"id":8972,"date":"2026-07-01T13:00:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T12:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/?p=8972"},"modified":"2026-07-01T13:48:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T12:48:00","slug":"tourettes-and-your-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/?p=8972","title":{"rendered":"Tourette&#8217;s and your career"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Tourettes-Lego-figures.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8974 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Tourettes-Lego-figures.png\" alt=\"Lego figures representing Tourette's Syndrome.\" width=\"300\" height=\"276\" \/><\/a><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/?p=8742\">Moving from university to employment as a neurodivergent student<\/a> can feel daunting, especially for those with conditions like Tourette\u2019s Syndrome (TS). TS is a neurodevelopmental condition that involves involuntary tics, which can affect daily life and influence career choices. Although it can present challenges, many people with TS \u2014 including musicians Lewis Capaldi, Billie Eilish and Wolfgang Mozart \u2014 demonstrate strong creativity, resilience, empathy and problem-solving skills.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/build-your-future-with-career-confidence\/how-confident-do-you-feel\">Build your career confidence<\/a>, by learning how to showcase these strengths. Even if you\u2019re not a musician, follow the musical steps below to help with job hunting and to prepare for interview:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>1. Play to your strengths<\/h2>\n<p>When <a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/how-to-write-a-cv-curriculum-vitae\/key-steps-for-creating-a-cv\">writing your CV<\/a> or job applications, remember to <a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/build-your-future-with-career-confidence\/recognise-your-skills-and-demonstrate-what-you-have-to-offer\">recognise your skills and demonstrate what you have to offer<\/a> such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Creative problem\u2011solving<\/li>\n<li>Adaptability under pressure<\/li>\n<li>Strong self\u2011awareness<\/li>\n<li>Focus and persistence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Then use our interactive tools &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/openuniversity.careercentre.me\/u\/ktad35ui\">CV builder<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/openuniversity.careercentre.me\/u\/hlg1fpob\">CV360<\/a> to help you develop and review your CV that plays to your strengths.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>2. Build up to blowing your own trumpet \u2013 the job interview<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/job-interviews\/preparation\">Preparation<\/a> is key to job interview success. Interviews can be the most stressful part of the job search process, but going in rehearsed can make all the difference. Follow our <a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/job-interviews\/interview-tips\">interview tips<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/job-interviews\/using-star-technique\">use the STAR technique<\/a> to plan what to say in advance. Practising answers out loud can also help manage anxiety-triggered tics. Before the interview, use breathing techniques to calm yourself. In the interview itself, slow the pace or pause if you need to and say that you have TS, if you feel comfortable to do so. Read more about <a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/explaining-a-disability-when-applying-for-jobs\">explaining a disability when applying for jobs<\/a>. You can also find information and advice on how to explain a disability to an employer in CVs, applications and covering letters in <a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/students\/_data\/documents\/careers\/restricted\/career-planning-guide.pdf#page=154\">Your Career Planning Guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>3. Find harmony with an inclusive employer<\/h2>\n<p>Explore our <a href=\"search%20our%20wide%20range%20of%20vacancies%20and%20work%20experience%20opportunities.\">wide range of vacancies and work experience opportunities<\/a> to find an inclusive employer in an environment that\u2019s right for you. <a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/research-labour-market\/using-labour-market-information-lmi\">Research employers that match your values<\/a> and appreciate your strengths.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>4. Sound out your rights<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/equality-and-diversity-in-the-workplace\/disability\">Understand your rights<\/a> and get some hints and tips about <a href=\"https:\/\/learn1.open.ac.uk\/course\/view.php?id=100172&amp;cmid=30518\">discussing neurodiversity with an employer<\/a>. Most employers aim to create inclusive workplaces, and in the UK they also have a legal duty to do so. Under the Equality Act 2010, employers must make reasonable adjustments for people with TS at work. These can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Flexible or adjusted working hours<\/li>\n<li>Additional breaks to manage fatigue or tics<\/li>\n<li>Quiet or low-sensory workspaces<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>5. Talk (or sing) to us<\/h2>\n<p>Want to talk it over? <a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/book-a-careers-appointment\">Book a careers consultation<\/a> where we can support you to explore your strengths and build strategies when things feel more challenging.<\/p>\n<p>Whoever you are, whatever your goals, background, ethnicity, abilities and disabilities,\u00a0identity\u00a0and differences, <a href=\"https:\/\/help.open.ac.uk\/browse\/careers\">Careers and Employability Services<\/a> are here to help you to succeed with career confidence.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>TS can co-occur with other conditions such as OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), ADHD (Attention-Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder) and Autism. Read the other articles in our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/?tag=neurodiversity-and-your-career\">Neurodiversity and your career series<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Profile-Picture-with-curve.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-7516\" src=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Profile-Picture-with-curve-255x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"96\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Profile-Picture-with-curve-255x300.jpg 255w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Profile-Picture-with-curve-871x1024.jpg 871w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Profile-Picture-with-curve-768x903.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Profile-Picture-with-curve.jpg 1258w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 96px) 100vw, 96px\" \/><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>Annabel Bennett is a Development Coordinator in the OU\u2019s Careers and Employability Services. She supports careers-related activity both within the service and across the University, helping students to achieve their ambitions and fulfil their potential. Explore the rest of our blog for more articles from your careers team.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moving from university to employment as a neurodivergent student can feel daunting, especially for those with conditions like Tourette\u2019s Syndrome (TS). TS is a neurodevelopmental condition that involves involuntary tics, which can affect daily life and influence career choices. Although it can present challenges, many people with TS \u2014 including musicians Lewis Capaldi, Billie Eilish [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6,7,110,111,61,116],"tags":[106,94,86,73,107,109,99,112,62,118,122,85],"class_list":["post-8972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-career-planning","category-cv","category-disability","category-job-search","category-job-hunting","category-jobs","category-neurodiversity","tag-applications","tag-career-confidence","tag-career-planning","tag-careers","tag-cv","tag-interviews","tag-job-searching","tag-job-hunting","tag-jobs","tag-neurodivergence","tag-neurodiversity-and-your-career","tag-students-with-disabilities-and-health-conditions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8972","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8972"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8972\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9008,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8972\/revisions\/9008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8972"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8972"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/careers\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8972"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}