Charles Freeman presented on the dyslexic approach to career planning based on his own experiences and information gathered from the network over the 2 years. On the 4th August Dyslexic Success UK had a very interactive session based on this research on career planning for dyslexics

1. Finding a Dyslexic Approach to
Career Planning
Charles Freeman
Charlesgjfreeman@msn.com
Dyslexic Success UK -
http://celebratedhub.org - equipping
diverse learners
04/08/2015

2. Part 1
Introduction
Dyslexic Success UK -
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04/08/2015

3. About this Workshop
• This workshop is an experiment
• The aim is to test my belief that dyslexic / neuro diverse people need to
employ different tactics from non-dyslexic people when planning their
career – Indeed they need to be better at and more proactive.
• To explore the topic I will try to identify some game theory scenarios
which model the career planning process
• I will also want your feed back and ideas
• The codpast has just done excellent guide to graduate job hunting
• http://www.thecodpast.org/2015/06/dyslexia-in-the-workplace/a-
graduates-guide-to-effective-job-hunting-part-1/
Dyslexic Success UK -
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diverse learners
04/08/2015

4. Exercise 1 - 2 Mins each
• Work in Groups of 2
• Introduce yourselves
• Each member of the group describe to your partner a work task you have
done well
• Explain how you knew you had been successful
• Switch over so the other member of the group has a chance to describe their
experiences
• Please feedback your partners experience to the group
• Adapted from Penny Aston Grooops 8Ds of Dyslexic Wellbeing
Dyslexic Success UK -
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04/08/2015

5. Puzzle 1
Majority Minority
Right Hand 5 Points 3 Points
Left Hand 4 Points 2 Points
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04/08/2015

6. Puzzle 2
Majority Minority
Right Hand 2 5
Left Hand 3 4
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04/08/2015

7. Part 2
What do dyslexics do in the work
place
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04/08/2015

8. Exercise 2
• Describe to your partners 3 things you hope to get out of a job. (EG
Income, Security, Friendship)
• Describe 3 things that you bring to a job which are of value to an employer
• What is the average length of time you have spent in a job (not your own
business). Please also say how long self employed or running business
Dyslexic Success UK -
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04/08/2015

9. My Guesses
• Dyslexics often find it hard to separate work from
rest of life – (Idea of working 5 days a week to live
at weekends hard for dyslexics).
• Dyslexics need to be passionate about their job
work needs to matter. (I have never found it easy
to see it as just a Job but that may be just me).
• Dyslexics spend less than average amount of time
in a job than the neuro-typical average 4-5 years.
Dyslexic Success UK -
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04/08/2015

10. Dyslexics can do anything
But more tend to somethings rather than other things
http://dyslexic-kids.tumblr.com/
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04/08/2015

11. How are Dyslexics Employed
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Self
Employed
Unemployed Employed Not In
Labforce
% Total
% Dyslexic
Dyslexic Success UK -
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04/08/2015

12. Dyslexics are over represented amongst
entrepreneurs and under represented in middle
management
Dyslexic Non Dyslexic Comment
Total Population 10% 90% 4% severely
Dyslexic
Owner Managers 19% 81% Julie Logan
Employed
Managers
5% 95% Julie Logan
Dyslexic Success UK -
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diverse learners
04/08/2015

13. Dyslexics may have the skills to fill senior roles
but struggle in Junior Positions
Skills needed first job / internship
• Making Tea /Coffee
• Meeting and greeting
• Being tidy and organised
• Taking notes at meetings
• Filing
Neuro- Diverse Weaknesses
• Clumsy when making tea/ coffee
• Awkward when first meeting people
• Untidy appear disorganised
• Bad at taking meeting notes / record
keeping .
• Bad short term memory forget to file
stuff
Skills needed in a senior role
• Development of strategy
• Innovation and creativity
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Good Communication Skills
• Good at using contacts
• Good Delegation Skills
• Good at team building and leadership
Neuro-Diverse Strengths
• Skilled in strategy development
• Different perceptions frequently
viewed as creative
• Good at networking and
communication skills
• Good at delegation and team
assembly ?Dyslexic Success UK -
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diverse learners
04/08/2015

14. Exercise 3
• Do you think your job is in a sector where
dyslexics are over or under represented
• How did you get your job
• How have you tried to shape your job so it
suits your strengths and weaknesses
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04/08/2015

15. My guess at sectors with over and under
representation of Dyslexics
Sectors where dyslexics over
represented
• Creative Industries
• Engineering
• Construction
• IT ?
• Sales / (Marketing ?)
• Caring Professions
• Land Based Industries
• Sport coaching and
development
• Catering
• Science ?
Dyslexics under represented
• Law and Accountancy
• Medicine (Doctors, Surgeons
and Vets)
• Administration / Middle
Management
• HR
• Civil Service and Public
Administration
• Translators and Linguists
• Teaching
• Data Analysis ?
Dyslexic Success UK -
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04/08/2015

16. Employment by sector
(ONS Growth Dashboard 2015)
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17. More Guesses
• Dyslexics proportionately are more likely get
jobs by networking word of mouth etc , rather
than formal application.
• Dyslexics need are frequently very successful
at shaping their job to fit their talent – But this
requires confidence and assertiveness.
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diverse learners
04/08/2015

18. Part 3
Round holes and Square Pegs
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04/08/2015

19. Businesses change by managing risk –They take one
small step at a time.
Adapted from Richard Dawkins Climbing Mount improbable
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04/08/2015

20. Typical Dyslexic Profile
Leonie Campbell-Dyslexic Teams
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04/08/2015

21. Diversity makes business more productive
Terms of trade analogy.
Janet 1 day work
combined total
Janet specialise in Iron
Combined total
Everyone is better off
John 1 day work
,
6 Iron 3 Cakes
John Specialises in Cake
6 Iron 4 Cakes
When both Janet and John Specialise
.
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04/08/2015

22. Positive Dyslexia – Professor Rod
Nicholson
• Many of the Skills Employers most want e.g.
– Persistence
– Creativity
– Problems Solving
Are skills which many dyslexic people have
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04/08/2015

23. How many dyslexics should you have in a team
Leonie Campbell-Dyslexic Teams
• Myer Briggs
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04/08/2015

24. When recruiting businesses want
Adapted from civil service fair selection training
• People who they are sure can do the job, not always the best person
for the job.
• People who will fit in to teams, and compliment existing skills, rather
than replicate those skills.
• People who are adaptable and flexible. So that the company can mould
employees to fit its requirements, rather than people who have their
way of working and have become rigid.
• Reducing risk is more important than identifying star performers.
• Job specifications and person profiles are designed to identify a cog in
a machine rather than people who will challenge how the machine
works
Dyslexic Success UK -
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diverse learners
04/08/2015

25. Exercise 5
• Give an example of a time when you feel have
worked to make your self less of a risk to your
employer
• Give an example of how you have used your
strengths to get a result for a team in which
you have worked
• Describe how you feel about using each tactic
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diverse learners
04/08/2015

26. Be aware dyslexia has a dark side from an
employers perspective (and its not only about
reading and writing)
Risks
• Untidy appear disorganised
• Get frustrated doing boring
tasks / get upset when left
out of decision making.
• Talk to too much at
meetings, red herrings, DVD
• Appear nervous not
confident around colleagues
Mitigation
• Work on organisation skills
• Take responsibility for own
wellbeing- don’t unload on
employer
• Be self-aware
• Consider being coached or
mentored.
• Know your subject be ahead of
the game, and keep learning.
Dyslexic Success UK -
http://celebratedhub.org - equipping
diverse learners
04/08/2015

27. Part 4
• Developing tactics to achieve your goals
Dyslexic Success UK -
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diverse learners
04/08/2015

28. Puzzle 3
Adapted from Professor Martin Hollis The Enlightenment Trail
• Janet and Johns Pub Crawl
The Michael Gove (1,0)
The Ladybird 0,2
The Moderation 3,1
The sensible choice 2,4
The creative challenge 5,3
The cats whiskers 4,5
Janet
John
Janet
John
Janet
Dyslexic Success UK -
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diverse learners
04/08/2015

29. Exercise 6 part 1
• How do you change the game so you end up
at the Cats Whiskers or Creative Challenge not
the Michael Gove or The Ladybird
• What tactics can be used to help you as a
dyslexic build a successful career
Dyslexic Success UK -
http://celebratedhub.org - equipping
diverse learners
04/08/2015

30. My Guesses
Things you can do
• Follow your interests- you are
likely to be more successful doing
something you like, or are
passionate about.
• Develop Weapons – You are more
likely to be employed for being
good at something, than for not
having weaknesses.
• Take ownership of your Self
Development and Wellbeing-
Consider -Coaching , mentoring,
and counselling .
Have a method to off-load outside
of work and family.
•
Things to be aware of
• Safe and sensible is dangerous –
Lots of people will be better at
being average than a dyslexic
• Confidence is key – if you are in
the zone and not conscious of
being dyslexic you are likely to be
succeeding.
• Dyslexics can often be found
– At the cutting edge,
– In areas of obscure specialism,
– In industries which have not
been codified.
– Where innovation is at a
premium.
Dyslexic Success UK -
http://celebratedhub.org - equipping
diverse learners
04/08/2015

31. Don’t forget being successful at work is not
everything, balance is essential.
Pennie Aston 8 Ds of Dyslexic Wellbeing & Eliminating Limiting Beliefs
Dyslexic Success UK -
http://celebratedhub.org - equipping
diverse learners
04/08/2015

32. Go out an excel!!!
• For additional support visit
celebratedhub.or/blog
• Contact Charles Freeman via
Charlesgjfreeman@msn.com
Dyslexic Success – Why Cope? When you can
excel!
04/08/2015
Dyslexic Success UK - http://celebratedhub.org - equipping
diverse learners