In this guide you will find information and advice about looking for or applying for a job. We will also look at whether or not you should disclose your autism diagnosis to a potential employer and local support that we offer. 
 

Looking for work 

We understand that looking for work can be stressful, particularly if you’re autistic, which is why we offer a range of services and resources to help you look for work. 

Free online Finding Employment module 

For support and advice on career planning, job searching, the application process and reasonable adjustments, you can access our free online Finding Employment module.  

Your local careers service 

Your local careers services can offer information and advice on employment and career choices. It can provide information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work. 

Wales 

Careers Wales can offer you advice about career choices, jobs and learning.  

Scotland 

Skills Development Scotland offers support if you are looking for work or making choices about your future career.  

Northern Ireland 

The Careers Service in NI provides a free and impartial offers information advice and guidance to clients of all ages and abilities across the region. 
Citizens can contact the Careers Service by accessing the following link: Careers | nidirect

England 

The National Careers Service can give you advice on choosing or changing your career, offers skills tests and provides personalised help from careers advisers. 
 

How our UK wide employment support services can help you 

If you want to prepare for work, or you are actively looking for a job, we can help you build on your social and practical skills, confidence and experience through a number of our support centres and our outreach team. 

It’s our hope that you have an equal opportunity to learn new skills, the choice to live the life you choose and do the things you want to. With the right support and guidance, this will also mean contributing to the wider society through voluntary or paid work. 

There are numerous ways we can help you. From partnerships with local colleges, job coaching, CV writing sessions, support while undertaking vocational qualifications or social enterprise opportunities – we will work with you to help you achieve your goals. 

Find out more about how our UK wide employment support services can help you using the links below: 

England 

• East Anglia support centres 
• Leicestershire – Blaby Road daytime hub 
• Manchester – Anglo House and Victoria Road 
• Somerset – Lynx resource centre 

Scotland 

• Moving Forward Project
   

Should I disclose my autism diagnosis to a potential employer? 

It’s often hard to understand the benefits and drawbacks of disclosing your autism diagnosis when applying for work. You may be thinking about whether your potential employer and colleagues will understand and react to your disclosure in a positive way. 

The benefits of disclosing: 

• employers are legally obligated to support you and make reasonable adjustments 
• there may be better understanding from your new colleagues and manager 
• you won’t have to try and hide that you are autistic 

The risks of disclosing: 

• you may be met with a lack of understanding and adjustments 
• you may be worried about prejudice from your potential employer 
• you may be worried that people will unfairly exclude you 

How to decide what to do 

There is no right or wrong answer to this question. If you do decide to tell your potential employer, you could try writing a list of benefits and drawbacks of doing so beforehand. You can ask a friend or adviser to help and list your strengths and potential difficulties. This may help you identify what adjustments could be made and discuss these with your potential employer. You should also decide what is helpful and not helpful for your potential managers and colleagues to know. 
 

Links to further help and support  

• Visit AS Mentoring   
• Visit British Association of Supported Employment (BASE)   
• Visit CareTrade (if you live in or around London) 
• Visit The City Bridge Trust (if you live in or around London) 
• Visit Employability 
• Visit Evenbreak 
• Visit JobCentre Plus  
• Disclosing your autism - a guide for autistic adults