Important Tips When Job Seeking with a Disability

Having a disability should never hold you back from achieving your goals, but attempting to find gainful employment can sometimes pose unique challenges. There are laws against discrimination, of course, but those laws provide very little comfort to disabled job seekers who are hitting the pavement with disappointing results.

There are steps you can take to make the job hunt a little easier, however, which should alleviate some of your stress.

Search for Jobs Using a Specialized Service

If you feel nervous or hesitant about jumping into the world of job hunting, you may want to consider heading toward a service that specializes in helping disabled persons find employment. Online recruiter Getting Hired, for example, will help professionals and veterans with disabilities connect with dedicated and inclusive employers who are actively searching for employees that fit their needs. They offer a wide variety of positions from many of the top employers such as FedEx, Kellogg’s, Microsoft, and Facebook. Also, the United States Department of Labor provides a list of resources to job seekers with disabilities and can provide you with information concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act.

You Are Not Obligated to Divulge Everything

When you go into an interview, you should absolutely not feel any misgivings about having a disability. On the flip side, however, you are under no obligation or expectation whatsoever to divulge everything about your disability, how your life has been affected, or what you struggle with on a daily basis. To put it bluntly, some things are just none of the potential employer’s business. However, if there’s an aspect of the job that doesn’t fit your skills or your abilities, do speak up.

Don’t Assume What an Employer Wants to Know

To go along with what we said about not divulging everything, you also shouldn’t assume that an employer will want to know everything. Many disabled job seekers may assume that a potential employer will want details on certain aspects of their disability or their ability to handle certain tasks. But, if you start rattling off information, you could end up talking yourself right out of the job. So, just sit back, relax, and answer the questions as they come to you.

Steer Away From What You Can’t Do While Focusing on What You Can

This is a problem with many job seekers, but it can be especially difficult when you are disabled because the disability is a daily part of your life. Perhaps you’ve been told what you can’t do anymore or what you can’t accomplish, but it’s time to push that to the back of your mind and focus on what you can do. This will ensure that the employer sees you as a capable person who doesn’t stop no matter what life offers up – and that’s great for any company!

Demonstrate Your Value

Landing a job when you have a disability isn’t just about what you can do in terms of the daily needs of the position, but what you bring to the company as a whole. Just like any person searching for a job, you need to show the potential employer that you will bring value to the company. They will want to know that you’re the type of person who could be around for the long haul and who has the attributes needed to advance within the business.
NationSearch provides background searches that will tell your hiring manager what he or she needs to know about an employee’s education, past employment, criminal history, and more. Contact us today and we’ll make sure your company is protected.