Re: Please, just hand me a carrot

[Guest guest]

Sue,

How old is your son? I have worked in the food service industry for 5 years as a server, my DH is a butcher/cook/anything the restaurants need him for. I would definitely say that your son needs a position that requires limited social responsibility. A LOT of cooks start in the dish pit. Once he's in there, he will prove that he's a hardworker, and start to move up in the ranks. Fortunately cooks don't need many social skills (trust me, I've worked with hundreds...haha) Hope this at least helped a little.

JEnnifer

From: Mimi <sue@...> Sent: Fri, October 16, 2009 11:07:10 AMSubject: ( ) Please, just hand me a carrot

DS (and I) are struggling through trying to help him get a job in a culinary position. ANY food service position. But we find that the interview process, at least for DS, is a total nightmare.As a parent always trying to advocate for the young adults, I have learned so much in the past couple of months...the hardest, saddest thing is that all of those issues that were present all during school, such as pragmatic language, social cues, etc. all come roaring right back with an exagerated vengeance going thru the interview process. Employers want BS and "blue sky" answers. People on the spectrum (at least my son) are trying so hard to be HONEST! Companies don't want honest, they want corporate speak. Incredibly hard! Here is an example. I was working with him today on sample interview questions. The question was "Tell me about yourself?" Son answered, "I am trying to look for employment in the working field to get up a higher rank." Or,

"What experience do you have?" DS answers, "I have minimal experience I would like to get better work ethics." Well, he worked for months in school cafeteria, helped with catering, worked cooking meals at Head Start. But these are not the things that come to mind, because we have talked about how he needs an entry level!!!!Now if you handed him a carrot, and ask him to cut in nne strips, as is pertinent to his career choice and vocation, he could do that, but answer questions like this...it is impossible. We have resorted to just about the same answer for every question! If anyone remembers Chatty , that is what it is like. Employer asks, "What are your strengths?" "Positive attitude." "what is your work ethic?" "Positive attitude." What kind of coworkers do you like?" "Positive attitude." LOL, it works in a multitude of situations. I just am at a loss for helping him on this! We have made flashcards, but poor short term memory

is making even that difficult. Sue in TN

[Guest guest]

DS is 25. He has a vocational/culinary degree from Job Corps. BUT, he applied

today for Dollar General stocking store shelves for new openings. Even THIS

position required a test like I described to ascertain how " something " they are

that has zero to do with ability to stock shelves. He has tried fast food,

school cafeterias, hospital cafeterias, fine dining restaurants,locally owned

restaurants, and they all either ask these type questions, or have you take

online test or administer a written test... he is very outgoing, that is not the

problem. It is much more an expressive language problem. So, like I said, if he

just answers " Positive attitude " to every question, maybe he'll get at least a

passing 70%. LOL

Sue

>

> Sue,

>   How old is your son? I have worked in the food service industry for 5 years

as a server, my DH is a butcher/cook/anything the restaurants need him for.  I

would definitely say that your son needs a position that requires limited social

responsibility.  A LOT of cooks start in the dish pit.  Once he's in there, he

will prove that he's a hardworker, and start to move up in the ranks. 

Fortunately cooks don't need many social skills (trust me, I've worked with

hundreds...haha)  Hope this at least helped a little.

>

> JEnnifer

>

>

>

>

> ________________________________

> From: Mimi <sue@...>

>

> Sent: Fri, October 16, 2009 11:07:10 AM

> Subject: ( ) Please, just hand me a carrot

>

>  

> DS (and I) are struggling through trying to help him get a job in a culinary

position. ANY food service position. But we find that the interview process, at

least for DS, is a total nightmare.

>

> As a parent always trying to advocate for the young adults, I have learned so

much in the past couple of months...the hardest, saddest thing is that all of

those issues that were present all during school, such as pragmatic language,

social cues, etc. all come roaring right back with an exagerated vengeance going

thru the interview process. Employers want BS and " blue sky " answers.

>

> People on the spectrum (at least my son) are trying so hard to be HONEST!

Companies don't want honest, they want corporate speak. Incredibly hard! Here is

an example. I was working with him today on sample interview questions. The

question was " Tell me about yourself? " Son answered, " I am trying to look for

employment in the working field to get up a higher rank. " Or, " What experience

do you have? " DS answers, " I have minimal experience I would like to get better

work ethics. " Well, he worked for months in school cafeteria, helped with

catering, worked cooking meals at Head Start. But these are not the things that

come to mind, because we have talked about how he needs an entry level!!!!

>

> Now if you handed him a carrot, and ask him to cut in nne strips, as is

pertinent to his career choice and vocation, he could do that, but answer

questions like this...it is impossible. We have resorted to just about the same

answer for every question! If anyone remembers Chatty , that is what it is

like. Employer asks, " What are your strengths? " " Positive attitude. " " what is

your work ethic? " " Positive attitude. " What kind of coworkers do you like? "

" Positive attitude. "

>

> LOL, it works in a multitude of situations. I just am at a loss for helping

him on this! We have made flashcards, but poor short term memory is making even

that difficult.

>

> Sue in TN

>