Foto: Mona Sæther Evensen

Steffen started at Unicus in 2022, and has for the last 6 months worked on the Data Lake team at Wallenius Wilhelmsen. But it has been a long and winding road to where he is now.

Steffen has been programming since he was a child. He started studies in statistics at NTNU, but struggled with social life and felt that he did not fit in. He started computer science at UiO instead and had two internships. One for Atilika in Tokyo and one for Ardoq at Startuplab in Oslo, both places as front-end developer. He tried to combine full-time studies and full-time work. It didn’t work.

-I was on sick leave and ended up at NAV. Eventually I also developed depression and was referred to a psychologist. He was the one who saw it, already after the first session, that this could be Asperger’s. Getting a ASD-diagnosis made the support from NAV completely different, says Steffen

For several years, Steffen Nilsen applied for developer jobs, but wasn’t hired. Gradually, those around him, both NAV and friends, began to ask questions about whether he should perhaps find something else.

-It was quite painful, he says. I have an education in computer science and I know what I can do – so hearing that coding “maybe wasn’t for me” was painful.

When he started getting more help, the pandemic began. In total, he has been out of work for five years. He has felt how destructive it is to walk around without meaning, he says.

Eventually he found Unicus and started an internship there in 2022. It’s been a busy autumn, with certifications in AWS, getting familiar with Azure, brushing up on React and learning Docker lots of other stuff he says.

-But it’s incredible to be at work again. To be able to talk about subjects and experience that my ideas and suggestions are heard, and to get recognition for the work you do. Steffen works without any specific adjustments, but his colleagues know he has an ASD diagnosis.

A common prejudice is that people with Asperger’s struggle to work in noisy environments. Steffen grew up with eight siblings, so is used to noise and can work well in an open-plan office.

-But if I were to stand on a stand at a conference for a whole day and engage in small talk and sales, I think that would have been exhausting. More tiring for me than for others. But I could have done it

He believes that some employers may fear that get an employee who is not flexible, does not cope with change and struggles with social life if they employ someone with and ASD-diagnosis.

-But there are just as big personal differences between those with a diagnosis and those without. And the opposite: Although people with ASD are often seen as analytical, this does not mean that everyone with the diagnosis is suitable as a programmer.

Steffen also believes that the increasing focus on diversity can be positive. It can be nice for those who fall outside work life to hear that they are wanted and that companies are looking for diversity. If it helps to get more people employed and gives them a sense of mastery, then it is good for everyone.

Text from article in kode 24 https://www.kode24.no/artikkel/steffen-var-arbeidslos-og-deprimert-sa-fikk-han-diagnosen-som-a-skru-pa-en-bryter/78200521

-But it’s incredible to be at work again. To be able to talk about subjects and experience that my ideas and suggestions are heard, and to get recognition for the work you do. Steffen works without any specific adjustments, but his colleagues know he has an ASD diagnosis.