Harnessing Hidden Superpowers: How Autistic Traits Can Make Amazing Employees

Much has been written about the difficulties faced by those on the autism spectrum.

Today, I’d like to talk about something else. I want to look at the positive side of having an atypical mind. The side that can sometimes do things most neurotypical people can’t. The side that can create amazing employees.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave.

The spectrum is very broad. At one end, there are people who would certainly have difficulty in a typical work environment, while others support themselves and even excel in their fields, as examples Dr. Temple Grandin, Dan Akroyd, Courtney Love, Darryl Hannah, Greta Thunberg, NASCAR driver Armani Williams, author Helen Hoang, and Pokemon creator Satoshi Tajiri.

These famous autistic people display certain cognitive advantages, personal qualities, and unique perspectives that drive their success. And while autism is represented in a wide spectrum, there are common traits among many autistic individuals that make them exceptional employees in the right setting.

Attention to Detail

Those on the spectrum often demonstrate meticulous attention to detail. They can spot errors or inconsistencies that others might miss, making these employees highly valuable in areas that require great precision. Think quality control, research, data analysis, and programming, for example, but also creative precision as needed in copyediting, animation, and video game design. In these jobs, and others where accuracy is important, these traits can improve efficiency and reduce costly mistakes.

Honesty and Integrity

It’s perhaps surprising to those who don’t have experience with ASD, but honesty is another hallmark of autistic people.

Many people on the spectrum tend to be straightforward and value transparency. They also have a strong sense of justice, and doing what is right, which fosters their integrity. These qualities are particularly valuable in jobs that require ethical decision-making and adherence to regulations. Compliance, engineering, legal, science, healthcare, and finance are all sectors that depend on professionals having a high proclivity of these traits.

This commitment to honesty avoids ethical and legal pitfalls and builds stronger relationships with clients and stakeholders who recognize and appreciate transparency.

Unique Problem-Solving Skills

Long before Apple’s iconic “Think different” campaign, autistic people were doing just that. They often look at problems from unconventional angles. This unique perspective can lead to exciting solutions that others might miss. Strong pattern recognition skills not only drive a logical, but also a creative approach to problem solving and design. In a study published in the National Library Medicine, several participants noted that superior pattern recognition skills gave them a similar advantage: “[I can] see patterns in data to come up with better systems” (lecturer).

Reliability and Loyalty

In a time when employee turnover is at a high, reliability and loyalty is particularly valuable. EY estimates that 38% of employees will leave their job in 2025. In high transition times, a loyal workforce can help preserve institutional knowledge, reduce costs, and increase productivity. Autistic employees can be dependable and consistent. They often prefer a familiar routine and fully commit to their job, resulting in lower turnover and giving employers a predictably stable workforce.

So, do these traits translate into great real-world employees? Just ask these companies! They have developed programs that attract autism employees and set them up for success in environments that foster their valuable traits.

Autism at Work Program

A trailblazer in neurodiverse hiring is the global software giant SAP. They launched their “Autism at Work” program in 2013. Since then, they’ve hired over 240 autistic people in 16 countries, and through their “Autism Pledge” initiative, have inspired more than 125 other companies to do the same. Because conventional interviews can be difficult for those who struggle with social cues, SAP adapted its recruitment process. By using informal workshops and objective assessments, autistic applicants can demonstrate their skills in a more comfortable setting.

Hirees receive orientation, training, and ongoing support—mentors and job coaches help them navigate workplace expectations and social dynamics. The results have been impressive. SAP reports expanded capabilities, increased productivity, quality gains, and improved employee engagement. Autistic team members have increased data analysis accuracy, helped streamline product-testing processes, and offered innovative approaches to complex problems. A single technical fix saved the company an estimated $40 million.

An unforeseen benefit of the program is that the company leaders now look at ways to utilize the talents of their entire workforce, by thinking about the specific needs of all employees.

Inclusive Hiring Initiative

While getting through a job interview is trying and difficult for most people, it can be extremely trying for autistic people.

Microsoft understands the benefits of attracting neurodivergent workers through an innovative recruiting process. In 2015 they began to offer an alternative to traditional recruiting, in the form of multi-day hiring events. Held several times a year, these events include hands-on work scenarios, problem-solving challenges, interview coaching, and opportunities to interact with potential colleagues in a relaxed, supportive setting.

Microsoft follows through with the things needed to make the program a success—training managers in neurodiversity, assigning job coaches to new hires, and offering flexible workspace arrangements.

Like SAP and others, Microsoft have become evangelists, and actively encourage other companies to include neurodiversity in their hiring practices through events like the Autism Employer Roundtable.

A Hollywood Success Story

Where the other companies mentioned are utilizing autistic talent to their advantage, often in STEM-related jobs, Los Angeles-based production studio Exceptional Minds has built its entire business around its talented autistic artists.

Focused primarily on animation, visual effects, and post-production work, Exceptional Minds works with major Hollywood studios. You’ve almost certainly seen their work in the Star Wars, Marvel, and Jurassic Park movie franchises, and on the small screen in HBO’s Game of Thrones.

Students in small classes get extensive training in the latest industry-standard software, and guidance in professional etiquette and communication skills. Many graduates of the program go on to join Exceptional Minds’ in-house post-production studio, where right away they get to work on high-profile projects for companies like Disney, Sony, Sesame Workshop, and Netflix.

Organizations like this become hubs, spreading word about the benefits of autistic artists to companies who might never have thought about it before. 

Of course there may be bumps in the road, as with any new hires.

While those on the spectrum bring numerous strengths, they may face challenges with social interactions, sensory overload, or ambiguous work direction or expectations. Pressure to socialize in a traditional setting can also be a draining. Employers can help by being flexible with work environments (for example, enable headphone usage and low lighting), by facilitating certain social interactions, and by providing clear goals, expectations, and feedback to autistic workers.

 Challenges need not be a burden. They’re opportunities to adapt and grow as a company and community and bring out the best performance from all employees.

In my next blog I’ll talk more about creating friendly and safe environments for all employees.

We must move away from thinking that hiring autistic employees is an act of charity. Leveraging the strong traits of this workforce is simply getting the best people for the job, especially in an employment market that is fraught with employee turnover and has high demand for skilled workers.

Autistic traits, often unseen because of misguided preconceptions, are hidden superpowers waiting to be unleashed. Companies who recognize these superpowers can gain an edge in a tough recruiting climate, especially for STEM jobs

By embracing and nourishing the unique strengths of autistic employees—attention to detail, intense focus, honesty, innovative thinking, and reliability, among others—employers can reap the rewards.

In the words of Dr. Temple Grandin, bestselling author, college professor, renowned animal behavioralist and named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World:

“I’m different, not less than.”

Well said.