People on the autism spectrum are able to achieve a lot of professional success in the IT industry. A great example of how, despite initial setbacks, one can build a career in the industry is Kyle Schwaneke from the US, who found employment at Microsoft.
Difficult beginnings
Kyle Schwaneke, from the US, is a person on the autism spectrum whose life story resembles that of many others in the beginning, and is typical of autistic people who, after all, have great aptitude in data analysis jobs and can be good specialists in that area. A young software developer with Asperger's syndrome was working in his profession at a small game development studio until it closed down. For more than a year and a half after losing his job, he was unable to find another job. He sent out many different resumes and went to interviews, but was met with a wall formed by HR departments tailored to the typical part of society.
Just when he was wondering if he would have to move back in again with supportive parents due to lack of savings, Microsoft announced at a UN meeting to mark World Autism Awareness Day the opening of a recruitment program dedicated to people on the spectrum. The Redmond-based giant already had programs for people with disabilities, but this is the first time such a large corporation has looked into the problem of the lack of employment for people with autism.
Hidden professionalism
The company received more than 700 applications, as well as words of support and thanks. Kyle was one of 10 people who got into the program. All were offered the market rate and hours of typical employees. Only the recruitment process was tailored for people on the spectrum to focus less on typical questions and rather take the form of a workshop to showcase the candidates' skills. Kyle immediately proved that he had a lot of experience and was well-suited for the job. He became the informal leader of the group by streamlining the work of others. The recruitment cycle lasted a total of 4 weeks, which was shortened by the company to 2 weeks for subsequent iterations of the program. Kyle passed it and joined the team of developers working on solutions for Microsoft's Xbox-branded consoles. The event was even more meaningful to him, as it took place on his dad's birthday, for which his family was visiting. Kyle was accepted in the office the way he is. His neuro-typical colleagues were trained to work with him and made aware of autism and Asperger's syndrome. By doing so, the team was able to integrate and not view the new employee through the prism of stereotypes, and develop appropriate methods of communication.
Collaboration for an important cause
Microsoft decided to continue its pilot program and improve it, expanding the number of jobs for people on the spectrum. During the first eight months of the program's operation, 11 people with diagnoses on the autism spectrum began working. The company began working with experts on the subject in the West. It managed to put the people in charge of the program in touch with their counterparts at other industry giants. Companies such as Hewlett Packard, SAP, and Capitol One helped improve their competitor's recruitment methods. All agreed that this is a field where they should not compete, but work together to change the lives of talented people for the better. Jose Velasco, head of the Autism at Work program by SAP, said: "Like all companies, Microsoft and us compete in most areas, but there are some where we collaborate. This is a great opportunity to cooperate for a greater purpose." This story shows that there is plenty of room for neuro-atypical people in the modern world of technology jobs. All that is needed is the goodwill of employers and a willingness to change to open up to valuable people and experts in their fields. At asperIT, we believe that Poland is also ready for such an approach. We are proving it by employing some of our beneficiaries for testing work and supporting willing employers to prepare to accept workers on the spectrum. Source: https://news.microsoft.com/stories/people/kyle-schwaneke.html
