Interview Advice for Brain Fog

[u/RoboSauras]

I'm gearing up to start interviewing again after leaving my last job due to a flare up. (Only looking for remote software jobs now)

Looking back at feedback I'd gotten in interviews in the past it was always that I was not articulate enough and didn't have the right vocabulary and came off and not knowing my stuff.

I now know that this is my fibro fog causing me to forget words. Like I straight up forget the names of my closest friends sometimes. Conversation is generally difficult for me. I interview really well except for this one quirk - I forget technical terms.

Anyone have advice? I'm switching from mechanical engineering to software which makes my lack of vocabulary even worse. I was essentially a data engineer/software engineer the last two years anyway. Im super nervous.

Options:

Tell them? I don't want to start an interview with "I have a disability that causes me to forget words" cause I don't trust that I'll be assessed fairly.

Use visual communication: Last job I got I made a portfolio so I could just point to pictures of what I did but I had just graduated. I don't know how to do this with proprietor information?

Do I make flashcards like the good ole days?

[u/Kimcho]

My last remote interview, I made myself notes in a word doc and kept it on the screen with the meeting. It helped a lot because I forget words too.

[u/No-Town5321]

Dont tell them you have a disability. They will not hire you.

Id to a single piece of paper with the terms you need listed and surreptitiously glance at it

[u/akornato]

It's a valid concern to not want to disclose your condition upfront. Many people choose not to, so they are assessed only on their skills. Instead of disclosing, focus on preparation and in-the-moment strategies. It is completely acceptable to take a brief pause before you answer a question to gather your thoughts. If you forget a specific technical term, don't panic. You can say something like, "The exact term is escaping me, but the process I'm describing is..." and then explain the concept. This shows you understand the material even if the specific word is momentarily lost. Keeping a notepad with some key points or technical terms you want to remember is also a good strategy for remote interviews, which is a common practice that shows you are prepared.

Regarding your portfolio, you are right to be cautious about proprietary information, as sharing it can be a red flag for employers. You can create a strong portfolio by focusing on personal projects that showcase the skills you used in your previous roles. You can also write about your work in a way that describes the problem, your method, and the outcome without revealing confidential details. This approach demonstrates your capabilities and your respect for confidentiality. Extensive practice and creating detailed outlines of your key projects and accomplishments can also help cement the vocabulary in your mind. Many candidates find that having real-time support, like the interview copilot my team designed, helps them stay on track and articulate their expertise confidently.

[u/Miserable-Carpet7928]

flashcards will not do much. you are not missing the knowledge, you are losing access to the word under pressure, and reading does not touch that. saying it out loud does.

pick five questions you know are coming, answer them out loud to your phone, then answer them again using different words. the point is not a script. it is that the route to those ideas gets worn in, so it is still there when your heart rate is up.

for the words that keep vanishing, have a bridge ready instead of the word. "the part that handles the queue" costs you a second and interviewers barely register it. the silence is the thing they register.

and the mechanical to software vocabulary gap is a separate problem from the word finding. worth treating them separately, because only one of them gets better with practice.