Before the Interview - Think Like the Interviewer

What is it? 

Communication involves understanding and listening to others, as well as expressing yourself in words, body language, and written forms. 

Why is it important to companies?

• Companies care what you say and how you say it when you are talking to other people (supervisors, co-workers, customers). 
• Companies care what you say and how you say it when you write work emails or other documents.
• Companies expect you to listen and respond to other people’s questions or instructions.
• Companies expect you to understand and show respect for the concerns, ideas, and perspectives of other people. 

Imagine what would happen if employees did not clearly and respectfully communicate with one another.  Imagine what would happen if employees did not listen to one another.  There would be many mistakes and arguments, and eventually, the company might fall apart.

What are some examples of communication skills?

• Understanding what people say (instructions, comments, questions)
• Clearly stating your requests, instructions, comments, etc.
• Asking questions when you need clarification or help
• Using appropriate volume and tone when speaking to others
• Using appropriate body language (shaking head, looking in their direction) to show that you are listening to someone
• Reading someone’s body language to better understand what they really mean
• Reading facial expressions to better understand what someone is saying and how they are feeling
• Checking for understanding after hearing someone else’s idea or perspective (“So are you saying that you want to change the orders?”)
• Considering someone else’s perspective and showing respect even when you disagree

What’s an example of a question the interviewer might ask to assess my communication skills?

“We don’t always agree with others.  Tell me about the last time you had a disagreement with someone.” 

Click here for more example questions and responses.

What if my communication skills are not so strong? 

Many individuals, including those with ASD, may have a difficult time communicating with others.  Different jobs require different levels of communication skills.  Throughout the Keeping a Job section of the website, we offer tips and instruction on how to communicate more effectively and appropriately with others.  It takes time and lots of practice, but you can improve.

What is it?  

Self-control is the ability to control what you say and do when you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, angry, or excited. 

Why is it important to companies?

Companies need their employees to stay calm, even in stressful situations.  Companies do not want for their employees to show any inappropriate behavior (yelling, breaking things, crying, private behaviors, etc.) when they are at work.  If employees show these inappropriate behaviors at work, then other co-workers and customers may feel very uncomfortable and upset. 

Imagine what would happen if employees did not use self-control.  Imagine what would happen if employees yelled at others or destroyed things at work when they felt angry.  Imagine if employees just stopped working when they felt really stressed.  Imagine if employees did whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted.  There would be many mistakes and arguments, and eventually, the company might fall apart.

What are some examples of self-control skills?

• Staying calm when a supervisor gives you constructive criticism
• Appropriately accepting changes to your routines or schedule
• Staying calm with an upset or rude customer
• Speaking with a calm, polite tone of voice
• Not taking things that don’t belong to you
• Walking away from an angry co-worker if you aren’t ready to talk
• Continuing to work even when you feel tired or distracted
• Taking deep breaths or doing another relaxation exercise when you need to calm down
• Taking a short break when you feel really stressed
• Avoiding using curse words around customers, supervisors, or co-workers
• Not sending angry emails to co-workers or supervisors
• Continuing to work (or asking for help) when the work task is challenging or frustrating
• Practicing and using a coping plan to help you stay relaxed at work

What’s an example of a question the interviewer might ask to assess my self-control skills?

“What is the best thing for you to do when you feel like you might lose your temper?”

Click here for more example questions and responses.

What if I have a hard time controlling my stress and frustration? 

Many individuals, including those with ASD, may have a difficult time coping with stress and frustration on the job.  Different jobs present different levels and types of stress triggers. Throughout the Coping Strategies section of the website, we offer tips and instruction on how to cope with stress on the job.

What is it?

Teamwork is working with other people to meet a shared goal.  Each person adds to the goal by doing the tasks that they are supposed to do.  When everyone on the team does this, then the team can get the job done.

Why is it important to companies?

Companies require that employees are able and willing to work well with others.  When someone works well with others, it means they are a "team player."  Team players are employees who listen to and show respect for other people’s ideas and opinions.  Team players offer to help when it is needed, and they are reliable—this means that their co-workers and supervisors can count on them to do what they are supposed to do at work.  

Companies rely on teamwork to get the job done faster and better.  Different employees have different strengths and talents.  When these employees all work together, then the outcome (product or result) might be of higher quality or value.  Some tasks are physically impossible to complete without a team of people (e.g., construction work, medical care, restaurant service).

Imagine what would happen if employees don’t act like “team players.”  Imagine what would happen if employees never helped each other get the job done.  There would be many mistakes and arguments, and eventually, the company might fall apart.

What are some examples of teamwork and cooperation skills?

• Helping co-workers who ask you for assistance
• Offering to help when you see that someone needs it or is in trouble (e.g., someone is about to drop a load of supplies, so you run over to help them)
• Completing your tasks accurately, or to the best of your ability
• Completing your tasks on time
• Asking for help when you need it
• Showing up for group work and meetings on time
• Listening to someone else’s perspective and showing respect even when you disagree
• Listening and following instructions given by a supervisor or “team leader”
• Doing your “fair share” of the work
• Being polite to co-workers, even if you do not like them
• Compromising with others - finding a solution that both sides can accept, even if both sides are not 100% happy with the agreement
• Accepting and following a team (majority) decision, even if you don’t totally agree
• Giving credit or praise to other members of the team for their work

What’s an example of a question the interviewer might ask to assess my teamwork and cooperation skills?

“Did you ever have to work in a group with someone who you did not like?  How did you handle this situation?”

Click here for more example questions and responses.

What if I have a difficult time working with a team or group?

Many individuals, including those with ASD, may have a difficult time working with teams or groups (in school, at work, sports, etc.).   Throughout the Teamwork section of the website, we offer tips and instruction on how to be a “team player” at work. 

What is it? 

Service orientation means the desire to help and serve customers, and also co-workers and supervisors.  If you work directly with customers on a regular basis, you are in a customer service position. 

Why is it important to companies?

Employees who work with customers are expected to be friendly, polite, and to show a strong desire to meet the needs of the customer.  Most companies make money by selling products or services to their customers.  Companies care about whether their customers are happy or not.  In other words, companies care about "customer satisfaction."  If customers are not happy with a particular product or service, then the customers might not buy that product or service.  This will cause companies to make less money! 

Imagine what would happen if employees were rude to customers or if they did not offer to help customers find what they need.  Imagine what would happen if employees did not listen to customers’ questions, and give them clear and accurate information.  There would be many customer complaints, and eventually, the company might fall apart.

What are some examples of service orientation skills?

• Greeting customers when they enter the store
• Smiling and showing a friendly expression when speaking to customers
• Offering to help customers when they enter the store (“What can we do for you today?”)
• Offering to help customers who seem confused or frustrated (“Can I help you find something?”)
• Responding quickly to customers’ questions (in person, by phone, or by email)
• Saying polite phrases like “Thank you” and “Have a great day!”
• Politely accepting complaints from customers
• Continuing to help a customer (or getting help from a supervisor) when the task is difficult
• Listening to a customer’s questions or requests so you can help them get what they want
• Listening to what the customer says and does to determine if they are satisfied with the product or service they receive
• Giving helpful, accurate, and clear information to the customer
• Staying calm even when a customer is angry or rude
• Working hard to make the customer happy
• Apologizing to the customer if you make a mistake
• Guiding the customer to additional products and services that they might be interested in (“Let me also tell you about a new program that might help you…”)

What’s an example of a question the interviewer might ask to assess my service orientation skills?

“Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond to help someone else.”

Click here for more example questions and responses.

What if I don’t feel comfortable working with customers?   

Many individuals, including those with ASD, may have a difficult time interacting with many new and different people (i.e. customers) every day.  That is okay - not every employee has to work with customers.  Some “Behind the Scene” jobs and “Out of the Scene” jobs will not require that you work with customers at all. 

However, if you are interviewing for an In the Scene job and you want to learn more about working with customers, review the Customer Service section of the website.  The tips and instruction in this section will help better prepare you for serving customers. 

What is it? 

Analytical thinking is the ability to break down a situation or problem in order to come up with a solution. 

Why is it important to companies?

Companies need employees who can respond appropriately and effectively when a challenging situation or problem happens at work.  Depending on the type of job you have, you will have to deal with different types and different levels of problems. 

• For example, if you are working as a bus boy in a restaurant, you might have to figure out what to do if you run out of dish bins. 
• If you are working as a grocery bagger, you would need to figure out what to do if two cashiers need your help at the same time. 
• If you are working as a research assistant, you would need to analyze written information and determine what is relevant to your research goals.
• If you are helping customers to select the best computer software, you would need to listen to and analyze their needs, and help them consider the pros and cons of each option.

What are some examples of analytical thinking skills?

• Recognizing when there is a problem (seeing that something is not working or someone is not happy)
• Breaking down a problem down into parts
• Thinking of several different solutions before choosing one
• Considering the pros + and cons - of each potential choice
• Making a step by step plan (written or in your head) to fix the problem
• Evaluating your own work as you go to make sure you are doing it correctly and effectively (“Is there a better way to sort these boxes?”)
• Evaluating your work after it is complete (asking yourself, “What could I have done differently?”)
• Sorting out tasks in the order of importance (high priority versus lower priority)
• Seeing cause-effect relationships (“If he sorts the files wrong, then we won’t label them correctly.”)
• Knowing when you need help or clarification to get the job done
• Anticipating or expecting certain problems before they happen so you can try to prevent them
• Obtaining additional information from other people or resources before making a decision

What’s an example of a question the interviewer might ask to assess my analytical thinking skills?

“Have you ever started a project you weren’t sure you could complete?  What happened?  How did you get the project done?”

Click here for more example questions and responses.

Companies conduct interviews because they want to figure out if you would be a good “fit” with their company. They want to make sure you would be a good employee for their workplace.

In an interview, companies might ask you questions about:

• Your educational background
• Your work and volunteer experience
• Your personality
• Your communication and social skills
• Your teamwork skills
• Your ability to cope with stress and frustration
• Your ability to solve work-related problems

They might not ask you questions about all of these skills, but it is better to be prepared.

ed!