Leaving University is undoubtedly a positive step but it can be a huge challenge for any student. It can feel overwhelming and difficult to know where to start to develop the life you want. The following information has been compiled for any student who may need additional support to make the transition to work.

Leaving University – Guidance and signposting

Leaving University is undoubtedly a positive step but it can be a huge challenge for any student. It can feel overwhelming and difficult to know where to start to develop the life you want. The following information has been compiled for any student who may need additional support to make the transition to work.

Support available to you:

Swansea University – Swansea Employability Academy (SEA)

As a Swansea University Alumni (Graduate) student you can access Employability support through Swansea University SEA for a period of 2 years after you graduate. SEA can offer support with work experience, CV building, interview preparation, careers advice and more. Do get in touch with them to find out how they can support you: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/sea/students/

Go Wales

Is a Swansea University project which aims to support students with a range of disabilities to access work placements and experience? Go Wales are able to work with recent graduate; use the link here to find out more; https://www.swansea.ac.uk/sea/gowales/

National Careers Service

If you feel you need more information about potential careers open to you following your degree you can also access the UK wide careers service using the following link: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/

Job Centre Plus

Job Centre Plus is a Government agency that provides support and information to people who are unemployed, or seeking work. They can help with work job search, information, signposting and benefit claims. Job centre plus operate from job centres in a range of localities.

https://www.jobcentreguide.co.uk/jobcentre-plus-guide/4/what-is-the-jobcentre-plus

Disability Employment Advisors (DEA’s)

DEA’s are specialist staff based in Job centres who have a role in supporting people with a range of disabilities or barriers making it difficult for them to find employment. They can help with some of the following:

• Assessing what work might be suitable for you
• Building your interview skills
• Helping with Job searching.

Follow this link to find out more: https://www.jobcentreguide.co.uk/jobcentre-plus-guide/34/disability-employment-advisors

Access to Work Scheme (grants & support)

Access to work is a government scheme designed to support people with disabilities who are in work, developing their skills and supporting them so that they can remain in work. The scheme can offer some of the following support depending on need and eligibility:

• special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help with organisation
• software and software training to help support work place difficulties arising from disabilities / differences
• help getting to and from work.

Please follow the link to find out more: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

Easy read PDF here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/789101/easy-read-access-to-work.pdf

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Are based around the UK and offer advice to people who have concerns or need support in relation to benefits, jobs, money, and debt. Getting in touch with the CAB in your area can be a great first step in finding out more about your financial entitlements as a ‘job seeker’ when you leave University.

Please see the link here to find out more about CAB’s, what they can offer and where your nearest CAB is: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Voluntary work

Voluntary work can be a great way to build skills and find out more about what your skills and interests might be after you leave University. This can help build your CV while you are looking for work, and help you structure your time, remain socially active while you job hunt.

Please see the link here to find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved/take-part/volunteer

The Equality Act (2010); How might this be able to support you?

The Equality Act exists to make sure that people with ‘protected characteristics’ including disabilities are not ‘treated less favourably’ by employers for reasons relating to their disability.

This places a duty on employers to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for employees who have let their employer know (disclosed) that they have a disability.

Reasonable adjustments can include things like:

• Changing the recruitment process so a candidate can be considered for a job using a work trial instead of interview for example.
• Doing things another way, such as allowing someone with social anxiety disorder to have their own desk instead of hot-desking
• Allowing an employee to take time limited movement breaks to help them manage their condition.
• Providing a work place mentor or ‘go-to’ person.
• Making physical changes to the workplace, like installing a ramp for a wheelchair user or an audio-visual fire alarm for a deaf person
• Letting a disabled person work somewhere else, such as on the ground floor for a wheelchair user
• Allowing employees who become disabled to make a phased return to work, including flexible hours or part-time working
• Offering employees training opportunities, recreation and refreshment facilities

Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers

Considering Disclosure

Disclosure means telling a potential or existing employer about a disability. Specific Learning Difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, Autism, and Tourette’s are covered by the Equality Act. These are hidden disabilities, so may not be apparent to an employer unless you disclose.

Disclosure can be very important in making sure you are treated fairly during an interview, or when you start work. Disclosing is a personal choice, but does mean that you may get access to more support, understanding and reasonable adjustments from your employer.

The following information (video) produced by the National Autistic Society (NAS) will tell you more about disclosure and why it can be important: https://network.autism.org.uk/knowledge/insight-opinion/top-5-autism-tips-employment-disclosing-autism-diagnosis-employers

Other Sources of information that might be helpful:

The National Autistic Society (NAS) Finding Employment Guide

The NAS currently offer a free ‘Finding Employment’ this is an on-line resource designed to:

• identify your personal skill set and positive attributes
• support your understanding of autism, including positive disclosure
• develop CV writing and job application skills
• develop interview techniques and strategies
• develop skills to prepare for the workplace.

Although it is currently free to access you will need to set up an account to allow you to access it. This is easy and quick to do. Have a look at the link here for further information:

https://www.autism.org.uk/professionals/training-consultancy/online/finding-employment.aspx

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/employment/seeking-work

Job Match Questionnaire

When looking for work it is incredibly important to think about both your strengths and the impact of your ASC / neurodiversity on your potential performance in any role.

The key to success in any role is making sure the role interests you, allows you to demonstrate your skills and can accommodate any challenges you may face as a result of your diagnosis. Every person who is neurodiverse has a different patterns of strengths and challenges. The following ‘checklist’ has been designed to help you structure your thinking about the kinds of roles / working environments that might suit you best.

Leaving University – Guidance and signposting

Leaving University is undoubtedly a positive step but it can be a huge challenge for any student. It can feel overwhelming and difficult to know where to start to develop the life you want. The following information has been compiled for any student who may need additional support to make the transition to work.

Support available to you:

Swansea University – Swansea Employability Academy (SEA)

As a Swansea University Alumni (Graduate) student you can access Employability support through Swansea University SEA for a period of 2 years after you graduate. SEA can offer support with work experience, CV building, interview preparation, careers advice and more. Do get in touch with them to find out how they can support you: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/sea/students/

Go Wales

Is a Swansea University project which aims to support students with a range of disabilities to access work placements and experience? Go Wales are able to work with recent graduate; use the link here to find out more; https://www.swansea.ac.uk/sea/gowales/

National Careers Service

If you feel you need more information about potential careers open to you following your degree you can also access the UK wide careers service using the following link: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/

Job Centre Plus

Job Centre Plus is a Government agency that provides support and information to people who are unemployed, or seeking work. They can help with work job search, information, signposting and benefit claims. Job centre plus operate from job centres in a range of localities.

https://www.jobcentreguide.co.uk/jobcentre-plus-guide/4/what-is-the-jobcentre-plus

Disability Employment Advisors (DEA’s)

DEA’s are specialist staff based in Job centres who have a role in supporting people with a range of disabilities or barriers making it difficult for them to find employment. They can help with some of the following:

• Assessing what work might be suitable for you
• Building your interview skills
• Helping with Job searching.

Follow this link to find out more: https://www.jobcentreguide.co.uk/jobcentre-plus-guide/34/disability-employment-advisors

Access to Work Scheme (grants & support)

Access to work is a government scheme designed to support people with disabilities who are in work, developing their skills and supporting them so that they can remain in work. The scheme can offer some of the following support depending on need and eligibility:

• special equipment, adaptations or support worker services to help with organisation
• software and software training to help support work place difficulties arising from disabilities / differences
• help getting to and from work.

Please follow the link to find out more: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work

Easy read PDF here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/789101/easy-read-access-to-work.pdf

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Are based around the UK and offer advice to people who have concerns or need support in relation to benefits, jobs, money, and debt. Getting in touch with the CAB in your area can be a great first step in finding out more about your financial entitlements as a ‘job seeker’ when you leave University.

Please see the link here to find out more about CAB’s, what they can offer and where your nearest CAB is: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Voluntary work

Voluntary work can be a great way to build skills and find out more about what your skills and interests might be after you leave University. This can help build your CV while you are looking for work, and help you structure your time, remain socially active while you job hunt.

Please see the link here to find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved/take-part/volunteer

The Equality Act (2010); How might this be able to support you?

The Equality Act exists to make sure that people with ‘protected characteristics’ including disabilities are not ‘treated less favourably’ by employers for reasons relating to their disability.

This places a duty on employers to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for employees who have let their employer know (disclosed) that they have a disability.

Reasonable adjustments can include things like:

• Changing the recruitment process so a candidate can be considered for a job using a work trial instead of interview for example.
• Doing things another way, such as allowing someone with social anxiety disorder to have their own desk instead of hot-desking
• Allowing an employee to take time limited movement breaks to help them manage their condition.
• Providing a work place mentor or ‘go-to’ person.
• Making physical changes to the workplace, like installing a ramp for a wheelchair user or an audio-visual fire alarm for a deaf person
• Letting a disabled person work somewhere else, such as on the ground floor for a wheelchair user
• Allowing employees who become disabled to make a phased return to work, including flexible hours or part-time working
• Offering employees training opportunities, recreation and refreshment facilities

Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers

Considering Disclosure

Disclosure means telling a potential or existing employer about a disability. Specific Learning Difficulties such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, Autism, and Tourette’s are covered by the Equality Act. These are hidden disabilities, so may not be apparent to an employer unless you disclose.

Disclosure can be very important in making sure you are treated fairly during an interview, or when you start work. Disclosing is a personal choice, but does mean that you may get access to more support, understanding and reasonable adjustments from your employer.

The following information (video) produced by the National Autistic Society (NAS) will tell you more about disclosure and why it can be important: https://network.autism.org.uk/knowledge/insight-opinion/top-5-autism-tips-employment-disclosing-autism-diagnosis-employers

Other Sources of information that might be helpful:

The National Autistic Society (NAS) Finding Employment Guide

The NAS currently offer a free ‘Finding Employment’ this is an on-line resource designed to:

• identify your personal skill set and positive attributes
• support your understanding of autism, including positive disclosure
• develop CV writing and job application skills
• develop interview techniques and strategies
• develop skills to prepare for the workplace.

Although it is currently free to access you will need to set up an account to allow you to access it. This is easy and quick to do. Have a look at the link here for further information:

https://www.autism.org.uk/professionals/training-consultancy/online/finding-employment.aspx

https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/employment/seeking-work

Job Match Questionnaire

When looking for work it is incredibly important to think about both your strengths and the impact of your ASC / neurodiversity on your potential performance in any role.

The key to success in any role is making sure the role interests you, allows you to demonstrate your skills and can accommodate any challenges you may face as a result of your diagnosis. Every person who is neurodiverse has a different patterns of strengths and challenges. The following ‘checklist’ has been designed to help you structure your thinking about the kinds of roles / working environments that might suit you best.

This Information has been produced by the Autism Spectrum Conditions Service based at Swansea University