So You’re Interviewing Corry

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how many hiring processes include questions about accommodations for interviews recently. This page is intended to be a catch-all for those questions.

Authenticity

Being my full self at work makes me more productive and valuable to my employer, and I don’t believe putting on a false mask during the interview process leads me to organizations where I’ll thrive. So here’s a heads up about what that means in an interview:

I’m non-binary and use they/them pronouns. I may arrive wearing clothing, makeup, jewelry, facial hair, etc. from across the gender spectrum.

I’m on the autistic spectrum. I may fidget as we speak. I will likely wear comfortable clothing over uncomfortable formal wear because of sensory sensitivity. My eye contact differs day to day. I may ask follow-up questions about what you mean by something that seems obvious.

I speak directly and honestly. I’m transparent about what I know and don’t know. No false confidence. I take promises seriously. I don’t hide relevant information or engage in bad faith negotiations. I’m looking for mutually beneficial partnerships, not marks to exploit.

I welcome kind questions about any of it and advocate for diverse humanity in all aspects of my life, including work.

Ambushes

Before a meeting, please specify expectations. If I’m expecting a 1-on-1 and a panel is there when I arrive, that can have an adverse affect on my performance (and reveal that the company’s culture isn’t inclusive for people like me).

If there’s a skill test, please let me know ahead of time what’s being tested and the method. The more detail the better. In real work, I take time for research and preparation. I ask stakeholders “why?” questions. Tools like Google and Stack Overflow are essential, and I consult with colleagues. I pull up previous projects and copy portions of them. Hopefully the testing done during interviews isn’t completely detached from the reality of the position.

I also don’t usually have people I just met watching the entire time, so I appreciate some understanding about nervousness in that strange circumstance.

Unconscious Bias

“They don’t have the look of a manager” takes on different meanings for each of us. Some folks interviewing with me will need to press through their biases, and I assure you it’ll be well worth it.

Thanks for reading this and giving me a shot. 😊