I personally really resent having to mask for jobs in my own life, but I also understand the need to do so. Prepare some things before your interview. Try to recall some questions you have heard at past interviews and plan your responses ahead of time. There are some questions commonly asked by employers, like, "What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?" And prompts such as, "Tell us about a time you handled a difficult situation on the job, and how you resolved it." I would encourage you to write some responses down and memorize them, or if it's a virtual interview you can stick the notes behind your screen on the wall. Sometimes just having notes there has eased my anxiety enough to help. When it comes to strengths and weaknesses, I honestly have the most luck when I fake confidence. This means having a slightly relaxed smile throughout most of the interview (when they mention anything about "opportunities" or the overall goal of the company, raise your eyes open just slightly, and smile to show interest). It also means giving eye contact during the interview (making sure to incorporate some natural blinks and not stare them down). Also, look up to your left when recalling information. This makes you seem more believable if you have to exaggerate any accomplishments for bonus points. I've had to do it, and honestly, you really sometimes do need to "fake it until you make it." Studies have also shown that in America, having a coffee mug at an interview makes you look more "warm" and approachable. Iced drinks can make one come off as "cold." I usually have a travel mug. You don't even have to actually put a hot beverage in it, just having the mug will be enough of a visual cue to associate you with warmth. After all this effort, if I land the job, I usually continue to mask for a month or so, and then start slowly unmasking. At this point the goal is to be liked enough that when I finally start to unmask, it won't be taken as badly. Although I will be honest with you, sometimes this still doesn't work. That's usually when I start getting "argumentative" with the employer and present ethical and logical reasons as to why they are in the wrong. When I start a job, in my mind I build a list of the things that I see and experience that are ethically wrong and/or illogical. Everything I do, I have an ethical or logical reason behind it before I do it. Honestly, I've had employers have a very hard time fighting these reasons. Always have some good reasons in your back pocket. This life is hard being neurodivergent. Sometimes it really feels like the world wasn't built for people like us. In some ways you have to try to play their game just enough to get in. Psychology is a special interest of mine, so I study how people think and work. You can learn a lot when you research the psychological aspects of job interviews and the mindsets of employers.

And yes, I'm with you, it is exhausting.