Alex lives in Manchester with a close friend, having moved away from home to study Computer Science at university. They’ve always had a passion for technology, data and solving problems — whether fixing computers for family members, creating spreadsheets to organise almost anything or teaching themselves new programming languages.
As an autistic person, Alex thrives with structure, clear expectations and the opportunity to focus deeply on meaningful work. At university, they were recognised for their attention to detail, analytical thinking and reliability, graduating with the ambition of turning those strengths into a career in technology.
Almost two years later, Alex is still waiting for that opportunity. They’ve continued developing their skills through online certifications, freelance work, open-source projects and volunteering, but traditional recruitment processes have proved a barrier. Interviews that reward quick responses and social confidence don’t always give Alex the opportunity to demonstrate the technical ability they could bring to the job.
Outside work, Alex enjoys gaming, photography, walking in nature and building personal software projects. Friends describe them as thoughtful, dependable and incredibly knowledgeable — someone who might take a little longer to feel comfortable in a new situation, but who can always be relied upon for an accurate answer or a carefully considered solution.
Repeated rejection has affected Alex’s confidence, but not their determination to build a career. They don’t want an employer to overlook their autism, or make assumptions because of it. They simply want the opportunity to show what they can do.
