How to Land That Job!
Interviewing Tips for Individuals with Special Needs
You’ve located an interesting job and you know you have the skills to perform it. However, the prospect of selling yourself to a potential employer can be daunting.
The key to a successful interview is preparation. Follow these tips and you’ll approach your interview with confidence, or, if you’re a caregiver, you’ll be able to help your loved one have a successful job interview.
Do your homework.
"You need to find out about the company and what the job is," says Brenda L. Moore, director of Connecticut’s Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. Knowing the company’s history, the products or services it provides, its mission statement and more will enable you to know how you can help the company and prepare good questions to ask the interviewer.
Practice.
Visit a location such as a One-Stop Career Center where job seekers can access job training, education and employment services. Thousands of these centers, created by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, exist throughout the United States (visit
www.careeronestop.org for more information).
While you’re there, sign up for a practice interview. "We have excellent workshops," says Richard Berrena, outreach specialist for FutureWorks Massachusetts One-Stop Career Center. "We also offer one-on-one orientations if a person feels more comfortable that way."
Be on time.
Punctuality and good attendance are repeatedly listed by employers near the top of the list of workplace essential skills. If you have a good record of attendance and punctuality in previous jobs, at school or in training classes, be sure to point it out.
Know your rights.
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies and labor unions from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities in job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment. See the sidebar, below, for a link to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Web site, which details the provisions of this act.
Focus on the job, not the disability.
If an employer asks questions about the disability, bring the conversation’s focus back to the job itself. Say, "Could you please tell me how this pertains to the position I’m being considered for?"
"Stress the positive [and] minimize the negative," Moore says. "Focus on strengths and abilities. If it’s a disability that’s hidden, and there’s a gap on your resume, be able to explain it. For example, if you have done volunteer work or internships, make sure you explain the working duties you performed."
Don’t share diagnoses.
Say, "I use a computer screen magnifier," not, "I have cerebral palsy and poor vision." Say, "I need a height-adjustable desk," not, "I have multiple sclerosis and have to use a wheelchair." Focus on the job’s requirements and how you will meet them, not on your personal history.
Don’t leave the employer with concerns or questions.
"If you have an obvious disability, try to give as much information as possible to ensure the employer understands you can perform the essential functions of the job," Moore says. "Discuss reasonable accommodation if pertinent."
Employers often assume an accommodation will be expensive. In fact, according to statistics compiled for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN), most accommodations cost absolutely nothing. The average cost for those that do have to be made is around $600, and certain programs may pay for some of these.
With preparation and practice, you should have the confidence you need to present yourself well in an interview. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t know the answer to a question you’re asked, offer to get back to the interviewer promptly with the information. Follow up with a written note thanking the interviewer. Even if you don’t land the job, know that you’ve done your best and that every job interview is good preparation for the next.
