Neurodiverse folks, would you disclose your neurodiversity in a job interview? What are your experiences with either approach?

I am autistic but still in the process of getting a final diagnosis (I have one from a psychologist but not from a specialist for autism yet.) In a few days I am going to send an application for an office position that sounded nice to me and where I had the chance to talk to their recruiter about on a job fair. I really hope this works out.

However, I am still struggling with the question if I should disclose my autism in a possible job interview. I am on that part of the spectrum that is/was classified as Asperger and can mask okay (from what I know), and imo it would be rather a help than a hinderence in doing the job from what I could tell. But it's also the main reason why I could only work part time and the job offer is likely going to be a full time thing.

So if I mention that part time would work better for me, they're going to ask why and need a good reason. After all it means hiring another person for the other half of the day. And I feel really uncomfortable with lying and being uncomfortable or evading the question is a thing recruiters might spot. That's part of *their* job. So now I don't know.

For context, I am in Germany and there is no legal requirement to disclose any disability unless it actively contradicts Doing The Thing. The company also says they welcome a diverse team and don't discriminate based on heritage, disabilities etc. but ofc that might just be talk. (Companies also have to pay a fine if they don't have a certain number of officially disabled people employed but many companies rather pay that than actually hiring anyone. And even with diagnosis there's still a lot of bureaucracy inbetween diagnosis and getting the paperwork for me to count as disabled employee on a legal level.)

So this question is not about legal obligations but at judging how a possibly neurotypical recruiter would react when hearing I am autistic. If they see it as a positive thing or at least don't mind or if they trash my application the minute I am out if their door...?

#Autism #Neurodivergent #ADHD #JobHunt #Asperger #Recruitment