Professional Development Seminar Summary: How to Get and Have A Successful Job Interview

Summary:
Two guest panelists provide tips about how to do well in a job interview when you have a visual impairment.

Peter Newman, Introductory Comments

David Price, Introductory Comments

Questions and Answers

Related Links

Related Content

---

Panelists

Peter Newman, President, Diversity Services, New York City. Honored as "Corporate Exemplar" by Educational Equity Concepts in December 2000.

David Price, former Human Resources Specialist, PepsiCo. Currently weather personality. Fox Five News, "Good Day, New York."

Peter Newman, Introductory Comments

1. Diversity Employment Services is the only temporary hiring service in the U.S. which specializes in placement of individuals who have diverse backgrounds in terms of disability, culture, age and sexual orientation.
   
   
2. There's diversity in all of us, and we need to change our society's concepts about disability. That's a difficult task.
   
   
3. We need to show CEOs there's an untapped workforce among the 49 million Americans who have a disability. About 85 percent of those people have no job, yet many of them have a work history. They have skills and talents.
   
   
4. Many of the individuals within this untapped workforce are ready to work. Diversity Employment Services opened five years ago and is now a $10 million-a-year business. In New York, we receive 30 to 40 applicants a week. We help them obtain job interviews and temporary assignments.
   
   

Go to Top of Page

David Price, Introductory Comments

1. There's ambivalence and ignorance about people with disabilities in organizations. We need to accept that reality, get inside organizations and help plant the seeds of change.
   
   
2. The goal is to become part of an organization that suits your skills and provides an environment in which you can thrive.
   
   
3. Finding the right job is like finding a wife. You're looking for one good match. That means you're probably going to have a lot of interviews that don't result in a job with that particular organization.
   
   
4. When you get inside an organization, partner with someone who understands your goal.
   
   
5. Convince the interviewer you're the best candidate. Take this approach: "Here's how I can help you if you can recognize my differences and help me adjust to your organization's environment. You'll get a payback for that extra effort." That's much more effective than simply saying, "Help me."
   
   

Go to Top of Page

Questions and Answers

Question: When and how do you tell a prospective employer about your visual impairment?

David Price: Be honest, be up front about your disability. Then focus on your skills and how you can contribute to the company's success.

Peter Newman: There's always a fear factor about liability because you have a disability. You need to recognize and address that fear right away.

Question: How do I make a transition in my career to a job in the travel agency business? I have customer service experience.

Peter Newman: Learn about everything you can about the travel business and the systems it uses.

David Price: Select the top 10 agencies in town, write a letter to each, asking if they have in-house training programs. Never be afraid to change organizations. Break out of your comfort zone.

Peter Newman: Yes, try. It means taking a risk, but that helps you grow. I was a rehab services director at one time. I've also managed seven men's clothing stores.

Question: How does a person hired for a temporary or trial job get funding for adaptive technology?

Peter Newman: We struggle with that issue every day. It's a barrier.

David Price: Organizations buy computer equipment in bulk. Special equipment always raises questions: Is it tied to a specific job or a specific person? Your interviewer is probably nervous, so put him at ease. Use salesmanship in your interview. For instance, say: "Let's make a deal. Partner with me to obtain the equipment I need to do this work, and I'll be grateful on a personal level."

Peter Newman: Be aware of what you need for equipment. Answer your interviewer's unasked questions. He doesn't know what he can't ask.

Question: I have a slight visual impairment and a new grad in communications. I've been mentioning my impairment at the end of interviews, and that totally changes the complexion of the interview. What should I do?

David Price: Expect to go through a lot of interviews. Tell about your visual impairment first and then put it into perspective in terms of what you can contribute to the organization. Help the interviewer relax and become comfortable. Get the interviewer to talk.

Question: Is it a good idea to apply for grants to help fund adaptive technology?

Peter Newman: Yes, but the time frame is the problem, especially in a temporary job setting. We need lending libraries, funded by a consortium of organizations, for adaptive equipment, so newly hired people can start work right away.

Question: What happens at the end of a temporary job assignment in your agency?

Peter Newman: Usually 18 to 20 percent of our temporary employees go on to full-time employment. That's higher than the national average.

Question: I've had 150 job interviews since 1988. I find most interviewers have no background in disability. How can I prevent a turnoff?

David Price: Don't hide the fact you have a disability. Help the interviewer become comfortable with it by putting it into perspective. As a job candidate, one of your responsibilities is to educate the interviewer. Think of yourself as a teacher in helping raise awareness. We still have a long ways to go.

Question: How do I handle lapses in employment?

Peter Newman: Write a functional resume instead of a chronological one. Focus on your skills and results. If the lapse comes up in the interview, tell the truth.

David Price: Today resumes are not read by human eyes. They're put into a database by a scanner so they can be searched by key word. So write your resume with key words in mind and then tell your career story in your cover letter. Don't mask the lapse.

Go to Top of Page

Bookmark this article to: