“I’m Ben, an engineering student doing an Industrial Placement Year with Atkins. Last Christmas I applied for a placement in Transportation, but was unsuccessful in the situational judgement test. This meant I could not continue the process and I hadn’t got the placement."
“I considered the situational judgement test to be something that put me at a disadvantage to other applicants because I have Asperger’s Syndrome, which is an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I struggle to deal with uncertainty in situations and to read people correctly, so this affected my performance in the test."
Your voice matters
“Earlier on in the process I’d read that if you felt the application process was unfair due to any disabilities or circumstances, you could give feedback in an email. I thought it was a lost cause but my parents encouraged me to follow up. I had nothing to lose. So I wrote, explaining why I thought the application process had been unfair on me and outlined why I thought I’d be suitable for the placement.
“It turned out to be worthwhile. Atkins got in touch and I was put through to the next part of the process. I managed to get an interview and now I’m on the placement!
Talent knows no distinctions
“As a
Disability Confident Committed employer, Atkins is very supportive when you apply for a role. The earlier they know that you’ll need adjustments, the more they will do to enable you to perform at your best. Now that I’m working at the business, I’ve found everyone to be really helpful. I genuinely feel they want me to succeed and grow, and that they value what I have to give.”
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