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Manny Ziegler
Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled
MannyDMC@aol.com
Dolores Kollmer
Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled
DoloresDMC@aol.com
We are both job developers/employment specialists with Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled. Dayle McIntosh Center for the Disabled has been helping individuals with disabilities find employment since 1983. We are contracted by the State of California Department of Rehabilitation, this state's Vocational Rehabilitation Department. Our current contract covers employment services to disabled clients who are either visually impaired or have limited knowledge of the English language including Vietnamese and Spanish speaking clients.
We would be happy to respond to emails from anyone with questions or wanting more information in the future.
There are no magical ways to look for work, no magical things to say during an interview. We will give specific job search tips, tips to get in the door, tips to contact the right person, etc... but mainly, job seeking for persons with disabilities is about the person. In my experience, persons with disabilities have difficulty getting work because of poor presentation. This is what we'll discuss in the first half of our presentation.
Companies can find other reasons not to hire you, or to fire you. They are looking for a person that will learn to do the best job in the shortest amount of time at the least cost. Period.
Attitude
An ability to communicate appropriately - in writing, orally and
listening. A positive attitude - "What can I do for the company?"
NOT "What can the company do for me?"
Assertiveness - confident of abilities but open to new
experiences and training. Willingness to ask questions.
Successfully work history - whether paid or unpaid. Willingness
to go above and beyond. Unique qualifications and
experiences.
Educational qualifications - competence in basic skills and
abilities.
A team player - gets along with peers, supervisors, customers and
subordinates. Interested in the welfare of others and the
company.
An eye of the bottom line - What can I do to keep costs down,
improve efficiency, increase productivity, help profitability and
contribute to overall goals?
Customer service awareness and performance - a sense of
urgency.
(the above "attitude" suggestions were taken from the Southern
California Regional Occupational Center - Employment Preparation
Packet)
Clothing
Coordinated/In-style/fashionable
Appropriate for worksite and company
Dress more conservatively than you would when actually at
work
Hair, nails and hygiene (breathmints!)
Social graces
Social ability is often limited in persons with disabilities
because of limited exposure to social situations - whether this
is caused by overprotective parents, special schools, only
socializing with other disabled persons, whatever, it needs to be
corrected. Getting a job is about networking. In addition to
skill, the employer is determining whether or not they can stand
to be around you for 8 or 9 hours every day. You learn social
skills from doing.
Example: 2 adult blind clients - one rarely leaves the house,
and when he does, its with his parents. The other has an award
for shooting, a brown belt in Judo, has gone on several outward
bound trips, volunteers at a local mission and dates/picks up
women all the time. Who do you think got a job first? The second
guy got a job on his second interview, while I'm still working
with the other (a year now).
You have to get out there and learn social skills. You need to
get out there and start socializing for several reasons:
1. You'll meet people which is always good for networking and
finding out about jobs.
2. You'll have something to talk about during an interview.
Example: You are being interviewed by a person with a bowling
award on their desk. If you don't socialize, all you can say is
"You bowl?" If you do socialize, you may be able to say "Oh, you
bowl. I'm on a league too at the ABC Bowling Alley, my friend
owns it. Have you ever bowled there?"
3. You'll feel better about yourself. If you're confident in
yourself, the employer is more likely to be confident in
you.
4. Enroll in a class, volunteer somewhere. Look at it as an
investment of time and money towards your career. It is not just
for fun, it is necessary.
This is your choice completely. Having said that, I recommend disclosing it on the phone AFTER an interview time and date have been set (so they can't back out) or when you arrive to the interview. If your disability is obvious and something that might make the interviewer uncomfortable or shocked (blind, use a wheelchair, etc...) I suggest you disclose it on the phone so that they are prepared emotionally. Remember, the interviewer is a normal person with normal fears and a normal lack of knowledge about disabilities - if they are freaked out during the interview, they won't be able to concentrate on your skills and you won't get the job. If you warn them ahead of time, they can be more composed during the interview and actually listen to what you have to say. (Handout from The Workbook - A Self-Study Guide for Job Seekers by the Epilepsy Foundation of America)
Search through newspapers, job magazines, and especially industry-specific publications. Do not limit yourself by particular job titles as companies use different titles for the same position. Also, a position with a different name may involve some of the work you are looking for and some that you may not have even thought of. Most importantly, be open. Follow instructions carefully. If they tell you to call, call. If they tell you to fax, fax. If they ask that you don't call, don't call. This approach often times becomes a numbers game. Many times you don't have a phone number to follow up and all you can do is wait for a call from them. But, as with any numbers game, the more you play, the more you win. Set a regular schedule of looking through publications and faxing or sending your resume in response. Set aside a few hours a week to do this and you'll begin to get responses. We'll discuss later how to handle these responses.
Cold calling by phone is very similar to approaching companies
cold via the Internet. The only difference? The receptionist. If
the receptionist doesn't like you, he or she won't give you any
information or put your call through to the proper person. The
receptionist is often under a lot of stress. Be nice to them. Do
not call when you are in a bad mood. Here are some tips:
Always introduce yourself by name and explain what you do and why
you are calling. Ex: Hi, my name is Henry and I'm a computer
programmer. I was wondering if you have any positions
available.
Never give up. If they don't have positions open now, ask if
they might in the future. Ask who handles that type of thing. If
it is HR, ask to be transferred and speak to someone there. Make
sure that you do not insult the receptionist by asking to speak
to someone else. Explain that you just want to find out more
about the types of positions that sometimes come open.
Ask if you can forward a resume anyways for future consideration.
Ask who to forward it to. A day or so after faxing your resume to
that person, call back and ask to speak to him/her.
Always get the receptionists' name. This will help if you have
to speak to her in the future. Also, you can tell the HR person
that so-and-so suggested you speak to them. It gives the
impression that you know people and have clout.
If they are not hiring, ask if they know of any other companies
that may be hiring or other companies in the industry/area.
Take notes on everything you talk about. Write down names and
dates so you can refer back to this information when speaking
with others later.
You don't know this person. They don't know you. It's okay to
embarrass yourself by continuing to ask questions until they are
sick of you. The idea is that you never want to have wasted your
time on a phone call. Always make sure you get something out of
it.
You probably all know the basic interview questions - Tell me about yourself.; What is your greatest strength?; What is your biggest weakness?; What are your long-term goals?; Why do you want to work here?. Obviously, you should be practicing the answers to these questions and more, but your main obstacle will be discussing your disability. Remember, be open and honest and CASUAL. If you make it a big deal then it is, if you act like its not a big deal and explain why, then it isn't a big deal. Interviewers are scared to ask about your disability for legal reasons. Legally, you do not have to discuss it except for how it pertains to your ability to do your job. If you stick to these legal requirements, you probably won't get the job. Offer information. Ask the interviewer if they have questions about your disability. Make them feel comfortable. Be prepared to talk about how you developed this disability, how it affects you, how you deal with it, and be willing to show them - bring your laptop with JAWS installed, bring samples of Excel sheets you made, bring any adaptive equipment you can and demonstrate its use. If anyone may think that your disability interferes with your mobility or transportation to work, discuss it - whether asked about it or not. Make sure you have already figured out bus or train routes to work - including times. Do not say you will get a ride to work - instead say that you have already arranged carpooling if you get the job. Being open and honest will do much more towards helping you get the job you want than perfecting answers to preset interview questions. Come to terms with your disability and then help others come to terms with it. Realize that everyone has biases - even you. Try not to take it personally and don't get upset. Be understanding. If someone is closed-minded about your disability, that's their disability. That's right - ignorance is a disability. Try to help them overcome it in the most supportive and understanding way possible.
Unless you need expensive or high-tech adaptive equipment, don't discuss this. If you simply need a wrist rest for your keyboard or a pillow for your lower back or a footrest, buy it yourself and bring it in to your workstation! Everyone customizes their workstation - just don't expect the employer to pay for these minor things.
BRIEF DISCUSSION THE BENEFITS OF ACCEPTING PART-TIME, TEMPORARY AND VOLUNTEER WORK.Go to previous article
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