commentr/StutterOctober 6, 2022

Content

Interviews are tough and being overlooked is a really tough thing to cope with, I am very empathetic to your experience, I am 37 and have had similar struggles. I wonder if sometimes we hinder ourselves by trying to fit into the fluent model of what an interviewee should be. I have found a sense of freedom in starting my interviews by speaking about my stutter - and the ways in which it makes me a better employee - rather than trying to hide it out of fear that I will be rejected because I don't speak "normally". This took me years to get used to but I feel has helped me. Employers generally look for people who are honest, resilient, direct, and skilled. By starting my interview saying "I stutter, so if you see me get a little stuck that's why, it's not because I'm nervous or unsure about what I want to say", I am able to use my stutter as a vehicle to easily demonstrate some of those skills. Equally, when I talk about the fact that my stutter can actually help me connect with others, it shows them that I am able to think in a progressive way about a potential challenge. Of course all of this may not be enough for them to hire me. However, if after the interview they don't select me for the role, then at least I can be sure that I have been honest to myself, and to them, about who I am. I realise we are all different but I share this out of encouragement, I hope it helps in some way.

Themes

Social & RelationshipsIdentity & DisabilitySchool & Work

Subthemes

Disclosure & Telling OthersAcceptance & PrideEmployment & Career