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I'm a skilled open-source maintainer, but I can't interview due to my disability

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Re: I'm a skilled open-source maintainer, but I can't interview due to my disability

#21

Post by maxk42 »

Here are some thoughts on coping strategies:

(1) Seek contract work on sites like Upwork.com or Freelancer.com instead of traditional jobs. Frequently all communication is via writing and this should be a boon for your needs. You can do a little freelancing on the side without quitting your current job. And it may help you gain additional modern skills or improve your pay while you look for a steady full-time job.

(2) I understand that your psychological conditions are rare and extreme, but it's always worth investing in self-improvement to try and mitigate some of these challenges. Practice interviewing, even if you don't want / need the job. Consider consulting with a cognitive behavioral psychotherapist for ongoing work to improve your social interactions. (I realize you've probably heard this a hundred times before and I apologize for repeating it again, but I had to include this for the sake of thoroughness.)

(3) I'd hire you for one of my projects in a heartbeat if you have the experience I need. Unfortunately, I don't have the resources to provide a stable full-time job with benefits.

(4) Many companies with well-paying jobs will provide accommodations to candidates with special needs such as yours these days. You should apply to jobs normally, and for those that call you back be prepared to make a statement about your needs. Many jobs will even state that they will make "reasonable accommodations" to candidates with disabilities up-front. The ADA requires employers to make such accommodations to employees with disabilities.

Re: I'm a skilled open-source maintainer, but I can't interview due to my disability

#22

Post by ihateolives »

999900000999 wrote: post #17

I only slightly dip into management, but this person seems like the ideal employee. They won't waste time starting office drama, they'll be 100% focused on work. If I was in a position to, I'd probably let them interview via text. I was hoping remote work was here to stay, tons of people simply can not work in an office. Say you have children and can't arrange child care, etc.

As a parent: when I can't arrange child care then I can't work either. I can have at home my work or my kids, but not both at the same time.

Re: I'm a skilled open-source maintainer, but I can't interview due to my disability

#23

Post by kyawzazaw »

Gigachad wrote: post #18
WalterGR wrote: post #3

Is the author in the US? There are laws about this. Here's one resource: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/job-applicants-and-ada I have no idea how that turns out in practice.

It is legal to discriminate there is a valid reason to believe the disability prevents the person from doing the work. For example someone in a wheelchair isn't going to be able to work jobs which require standing. And it could certainly be argued that someone who freezes in communication situations could be unfit for many programming jobs where communication and confrontation is common. Honestly the ideal situation…

Ideally if OP could be sponsored by GitHub or Patreon, that could be great

Re: I'm a skilled open-source maintainer, but I can't interview due to my disability

#24

Post by Hnrobert42 »

I interview a lot of developers. It is very difficult to find good ones. If your CV looked good, I would consider and accommodate you as needed. Many interviewers will not be accommodating, but some will.

I suggest writing posts on LinkedIn related to your skills. Really lard them up with relevant keywords. That draws recruiters like chum in the water. Once a recruiter suggests you voice chat, respond that because of a disability you prefer to communicate via text. If you can, offer to chat synchronously via Teams (recruiters love Teams) or Slack or whatever. Some recruiters will stop communicating with you at that point. It sucks. But some will have no problem with that.

Don’t go into detail about your disabilities. It is no one’s business. As an employer, your disabilities don’t matter to me so long as you can do the job with reasonable accommodation. So focus on how well you can do the job.

And trust me, just from reading your post, I can tell that you can do the job, some job, well. You are articulate and thoughtful. You just need to find the right match. Good luck!

Re: I'm a skilled open-source maintainer, but I can't interview due to my disability

#25

Post by sokoloff »

maxk42 wrote: post #21

Here are some thoughts on coping strategies: (1) Seek contract work on sites like Upwork.com or Freelancer.com instead of traditional jobs. Frequently all communication is via writing and this should be a boon for your needs. You can do a little freelancing on the side without quitting your current job. And it may help you gain additional modern skills or improve your pay while you look for a steady full-time job. (2…

Completely agree on #4.

Your experience set isn’t a good match for us, but it will be for plenty of companies and any halfway organized company over about 50 people is likely to readily accommodate your request for reasonable accommodations in the interview process. Many will have fairly fixed bands for comp for their first two industry SWE levels as well, so you’re not as likely to get low-balled as you might fear if you go to a company large enough to have scores of SWE1 and SWE2 employees.

Re: I'm a skilled open-source maintainer, but I can't interview due to my disability

#26

Post by jhogendorn »

Would it be viable to just state that you are hard of hearing and require text based communications? While its not the strict truth, its a much simpler and more understood 'hard' disability, whereas when you state a disability that is perceived as 'soft' (ie any given mental issue neurotypical people assume you can just think through/get over) theres more pushback on you to normalise yourself rather than for them to accommodate.

Re: I'm a skilled open-source maintainer, but I can't interview due to my disability

#27

Post by kirevmaco »

I also have Generalized Anxiety Disorder but don't have the other diagnoses you have, so please take what I have to say with a grain of salt. I really sympathize with what you wrote. My GAD was getting worse (feeling a rise in anxiety just from typing those words) and I eventually got it together to start seeing a therapist. It has helped quite a bit and I wish I had started seeing someone earlier. My appointments are in-person but when I was looking around, I found that a lot of therapists offer their services online. Perhaps you could find an option where the person was okay with your video being turned off to make it easier for you to talk.

I do hope you find a better job that fits with your conditions and I don't mean to minimize your efforts in that direction.

Re: I'm a skilled open-source maintainer, but I can't interview due to my disability

#28

Post by WalterGR »

Gigachad wrote: post #18
WalterGR wrote: post #3

Is the author in the US? There are laws about this. Here's one resource: https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/job-applicants-and-ada I have no idea how that turns out in practice.

It is legal to discriminate there is a valid reason to believe the disability prevents the person from doing the work. For example someone in a wheelchair isn't going to be able to work jobs which require standing. And it could certainly be argued that someone who freezes in communication situations could be unfit for many programming jobs where communication and confrontation is common. Honestly the ideal situation…

> And it could certainly be argued that someone who freezes in communication situations could be unfit for many programming jobs where communication

OP said selective mutism, not the inability to communicate.

“I work best when I am able to sit alone in relative quiet, and when I am able to communicate asynchronously via text.”

> and confrontation is common.

A healthy back and forth about how to solve problems, sure. But “confrontation is common”? Only in toxic work environments.

Our field is perfect for OP, and few are better. Especially in remote and async situations.

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