In the perfect world, all candidates for employment are equal, judged only by their abilities and skills. However, no one knows the truth better than people with disabilities looking for a job. A disability should not be something that prevents a skilled and educated individual from finding work, but it often is like that.
If you’re searching for a job, here are a few tips that will help any person with disabilities find inclusive, meaningful and well-paying work:
Highlight your skills
People with disabilities have certain things they can’t do and that’s a fact. However, instead of focusing on what you can’t do, you can focus on all the things you can do. Based on your goals, skills, education and experience, identify the types of work you want to do, go searching for open positions and send out your applications.
If you want to be successful at work, it’s crucial to find a role that makes the most out of your skills and knowledge. This allows you to be a valuable asset to the company and get employment quickly. Be confident and direct in interviews, highlighting your strengths and talking about your past professional success.
Learn about workplace modifications
First learn about certain modifications in the workplace that you might need, and then be transparent with your potential employer. There are certain modifications like a height-adjustable desk, screen-reading software, more breaks and flexible work hours that you might not be able to work without. Talk directly to your employer about adjustments that your disability demands so you can offer the full potential of your abilities to the company.
It’s very easy for employers to remove certain barriers that stop people with disabilities from performing their duties, they just need to know what these barriers are and how they can be overcome. Offer help to your potential employer when it comes to workplace modifications and explain how they can even get funding from the government and avoid any costs to their business.
Seek help
If you can’t say your job search has been amazing, you might want to go looking for help from professionals from your local disability employment service provider. These services help people with disabilities find meaningful work, so don’t hesitate to set an appointment and make your job search easier.
Next, if you’re struggling to stay on top of all your home chores and obligations while you’re looking for a job or during your trial period at work, you can also consider moving to a supported independent living home where you can enjoy all the freedom you need, mixed in with all the assistance you need. This is a great solution for all people with disabilities who just need a bit of help during their everyday tasks.
Remain positive
In order to keep your positivity, try to set short-term goals that can be achieved relatively easily. This will help your motivation and confidence and keep you in the search for a job until you succeed. It’s a reality that people with disabilities find employment harder, but you can take small steps. For instance, set goals like being invited for an interview, getting a reply, buying a suit, starting volunteering, and opting for a part-time position.
These are all just stages towards full-time and long-term employment. Just because you got rejected once, it doesn’t mean that you will never get a job. It’s an opportunity to keep improving until the right opportunity comes. Develop a career plan and set a few small goals so you can stay motivated to keep going when things get hard.
Be flexible
In today’s economy, everyone is struggling with employment. Sometimes, things just don’t seem to go your way, but through flexibility, you can be much more successful in your job hunt, especially during the pandemic. There are different job search strategies you can try out, but also different types of employment.
For instance, a full-time job is not the only choice—there’s temporary work, volunteering, part-time work, remote work, etc. These can be very practical for you and can come in handy during your search for something more permanent and secure.
Think of the future
Employment and career planning are two processes that never end their development. The best employees always reassess their goals and make their plans fit their reality. For you, your future might hold things like a change of employment, further education or new positions within your company.
If there are certain positions you aspire to, consult with career advisors and see what kind of skills and education you need for them. Using your disability employment services, you can even get free training and professional improvement. Always keep your future in mind!
In conclusion
Today, finding employment is hard, no matter your circumstances. Keep that in mind when looking for inclusive work, so you can stay positive and confident all throughout your search. With a good career plan, realistic expectations and necessary flexibility, it’s possible to end up with the employment of your dreams!
Guest Author – Derek Lotts