Hey recruiters cognitive tests are not fair to neurodivergent folks

complicated comic

I am neurodivergent and proud of it.

As a child, I used to have ADHD and scored poorly on tests. It didn’t help that I grew up in a rural community in a state that spends the least in the US. There were terrible resources and a difficult environment for anyone to learn in.

It is surprising that companies use cognitive tests when there are so many more effective ways to gauge someone’s ability. Companies say that they need a standardized process. Fine then ask standardized questions. Asking someone to figure out timed math and vocabulary problems isn’t an indication of intelligence.

There are so many problems with standard cognitive tests. What if English isn’t your first language? What if you are native American or some ethnic group that isn’t white? You will do worse because you don’t have that assumed knowledge. What if you had poor instruction, or your parents didn’t have the money or ability to treat your condition? What if your condition was treated but you still suffer from it?

What does the test not score which is critical in business? Emotional intelligence, creativity, and desire to grow and become. Do you really want to work in a company that only seeks people like themselves?

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