“For neurodiverse candidates, the biggest challenge is typically communication, their ability to interact with people.” That observation from Justin Nelson sits at the center of his argument for changing how financial firms hire.
Nelson, a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Connecticut, leads the Asset Management and Financial Principals Coverage Team, which oversees more than $15 billion in assets. He has drawn on both that role and a personal understanding of workplace barriers to explain why people on the autism spectrum are frequently missed by recruiters.
What Gets Lost in the Interview
Most hiring processes reward easy conversation. For many neurodiverse applicants, that is the hardest part. Nelson says the casual exchanges most people handle without thinking can be very difficult for them, which means a strong candidate may appear weak in a typical interview setting.
What interviewers fail to see are the strengths behind the struggle. According to the JP Morgan leader, these individuals are often extremely creative and have computational skills far above average. Within wealth management and financial analysis, such traits carry obvious value.
Rethinking the Process
Justin Nelson JP Morgan argues that the burden of change falls on employers. Communication gaps mean the hiring process itself has to look different, and the transition from education into a first job is where neurodiverse people tend to face the steepest climb.
Help can come from outside partners. Nelson works with Broad Futures, a charity that educates employers and helps them run programs to choose neurodiverse candidates. He also supports Adelphi University’s Bridges Program for high-functioning students on the spectrum.
After hiring, the JP Morgan managing director recommends dividing work into defined tasks and showing how each fits into a broader set of rules. Employees who understand that framework, he says, can become some of the best people on a team. For Justin Nelson, communication differences should not decide who gets a chance. Refer to this article for more information.
Find more information about Justin Nelson JP Morgan on https://azbigmedia.com/business/the-evolution-of-finance-at-tufts-justin-nelsons-contributions-to-building-a-finance-program/