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Like many others needing assistance in finding employment, people with disabilities
are often presented to a system that is fragmented and difficult to
navigate. A major role of Parents
Alliance Employment Project is to bring these programs together to be easily
accessed by all jobseekers with disabilities. Listed below are some helpful hints and tools to get a
jumpstart on your job searching activities.
In the beginning…
The best way to start looking for a job is to identify what you are good at,
including your skills, interests and abilities. An easy way to do this is by talking with your family and
friends about what job they think you might like doing. If you want to take things into your own
hands, you can take a career interest survey online. Here are a couple links to get you started.
www.careerkey.org
http://online.onetcenter.org/
Navigating
the Internet and using job-search engines:
Don’t limit yourself by just reading the newspapers or the Internet. Make sure to network by talking to friends
and family members and letting them know you are seeking employment
opportunities. In addition, if you
have an interest for working in a specific field, research companies and go
directly to their website since many companies list their job openings
there. Here are some general Internet
sites to get you started.
www.dailyherald.com
www.chicagosuburbannews.com
www.AbilityLinks.org
http://searchchicago.suntimes.com/jobs/
-During your job
search, it is important to keep a detailed log of where you have applied for
jobs. In this log, include dates,
names of people that you have been in contact with, phone numbers, and
addresses. This will help you keep
track of your ongoing job search activities.
A
resume is what gets you in the door… an employer will SCREEN OUT anyone who does
not PROVE they can DO or LEARN the job!
Keep in mind that an employer is likely to spend 20 seconds or less
reading your resume. With that in
mind, you need to be sure that the resume is clear, concise, and well-laid
out, and that the most important things are present and easily found.
5 Quick Resume Tips
1. Choose your field and focus
This will give the employer a clear indication that you know what you want.
Because the “objective” is usually found at the top of the resume, it is
particularly important that it captures the employer’s interest. In one or
two statements, let them know what it is that you are seeking and what it is
that you can offer. For example, “Seeking retail management training
position, utilizing my six years of experience in retail sales”.
2. Determine employer’s needs
Think like the employer, research the company and position, and call the
employer to find out what they are looking for in employees.
An easy task to help you determine their needs and whether or not you can meet
them is to list their needs in one column and list how you fulfill the needs
in another column. If the second column is full, you are qualified for that
position. If it isn’t, you have more work to do.
3. Determine your selling points to meet employer’s needs
Qualified Selling Points are your calling card. They make you stand out from
the crowd.
How
to determine QSP’s:
-
Identify the employer’s needs for this position in this field. Clue: If the
employer doesn’t need it, it’s not a selling point, no matter how impressive.
-
Identify a situation in your life that proves you can meet the need today.
This is time to get creative. Use non-traditional and special resources!!
-
Prove it!!! Use numbers, percentages and ratios in your QSP.
-
Offer a framework in which the employer can understand the “prove it,” such
as a time frame or comparison.
-
Check the QSP for believability and consistency.
-
Before QSP: “Answered phones using multi-line system.” After QSP:
“Independently answered and transferred 500 phone calls per day using a
20-line system”
4. Choose a format
Chronological resumes market a candidate by presenting their strong,
consistent work history and educational background.
Skills resumes market candidates by presenting their skills. They are more
versatile and clearly highlight transferable skills, paid and unpaid
experience.
-
Skills resume format includes letterhead, objective, summary of
qualifications, skills, experience, related education, related experiences,
awards, or memberships.
-
Do not list high school education or GED- an employer will assume that you
have at least a high school diploma.
5. Put it together
Have another person look at your resume and make suggestions. Always check
your spelling and grammar. Mistakes indicate carelessness.
Interviewing Tips
You’ve made it this far! It’s time for the all-important interview. Remember
to…
- Do your research and know the location of the interview so you will not be
late.
- Bring a copy of your resume.
- Greet everyone you encounter with a positive attitude. You might be working
there someday!
- Introduce yourself with a firm handshake.
- Maintain good eye contact to show interest.
- Do your best at relating your background and skills to the position at
hand.
- Sit up straight!
- Speak clearly!
- Brag, brag, brag. Use the opportunity of an interview to brag about
yourself. If this is hard for you, practice beforehand. Always describe your
positive attributes that relate to the position you have applied for.
- Give examples when answering “yes” or “no” questions.
- Do not go off topic; Keep answers limited to 30-45 seconds.
-Pay attention to the cues the Interviewer is giving you. Are you talking too
much? Are you not talking enough?
- Show interest in the position.
- Smile and relax as much as possible!
- Be prepared to ask employer questions. Remember the interview is a two-way
street! They want to know about you, but you might have questions about the
company or the position also.
- At the close of the interview, shake hands and thank the interviewer for
their time. Tell the interview how interested you are in the position and
find out when and how you will be contacted.
- Write a thank you letter. Send one to each of the interviewers if you had
more than one. Thank you letters are a common courtesy and enhance your
chances for a job opportunity.
- Make a follow-up call to inquire if a hiring decision has been made. Hiring
takes time, so try not to get discouraged. Give the employer about a week or
two after the interview before you call.
Do I Disclose My Disability on an Interview?
To disclose, or not disclose. That is the question. The answer depends on
whether or not you are comfortable with it. Everyone has different ideas of why
they would or would not want to say anything to an interviewer. Below are
some suggestions and ideas to consider when contemplating this issue.
Ultimately it is up to you to decide, but keep in mind that you are not
legally required to disclose anything regarding your disability.
*This next section is to help you make up your mind, not persuade you in any
way.
If you decide to disclose your disability…
-Think about bringing along some literature of what exactly the disability
is. This will help the interviewer become more comfortable with the
situation.
-Be open to answering questions. If you bring it up, you have to expect
questions.
-Most importantly, let the interviewer know that even though you have a
disability, it doesn’t mean that you are not qualified for the job.
-You may want to bring some literature regarding the ADA. www.ada.gov is a
good resource to refer the employer and get information.
If you decide not to disclose your disability on an interview:
-Depending on what the disability is, you may still have to disclose it if
you need an accommodation. Employers are responsible for providing reasonable
accommodations in order for their employees to perform the essential
functions of the job, but it is up to the employee to let the employer know
that they need it.
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