Debra L. Angel and Elizabeth E. Harney, authors of
"No One is Unemployable: Creative Solutions for Overcoming Barriers to Employment," advise those of us with disabilities to seek opportunities within the most receptive environment for developing our careers.
This strategy involves uncovering situations which offer reduced competition from just-as-qualified, non-disabled candidates. Pursuing that strategy, according to the authors, will increase the likelihood that you'll land an entry-level career job that is right for you. A job is right for you when it empowers you to work at what you want to become in terms of a vocation.
During our annual evaluation of eSight, I invited you to complete a quick questionnaire about how you would describe your employment situation, how you use eSight and what we can do to improve our services to you as an eSight member.
In reviewing all of the feedback eSight members have submitted so far through the questionnaire, I noticed a range of comments and recommendations which basically say, "Be flexible in where you look for a job."
In other words, choose the most receptive environment for developing a career. That insight is not an ivory-tower theory. That's based on your bed-rock experiences.
Specifically, what does that strategy (if you agree that it has at least some application to your situation) mean to you in terms of deciding which job search tactics to use? Here are some options, generated by the observations you sent to us through the questionnaire. I cite here just a few of the many helpful comments you have submitted:
- Concentrate your job search within the hidden job market where 80 percent of the available jobs become available but only become known to 20 percent of the job seekers because they hear about them through personal networking.
For example, KH, who apparently helps individuals who are visually impaired manager their careers, recommends:
"Network with as many people as possible when looking for a job, even if you don't think they can be of any help to you. You never know. That individual might be able to put you in contact with an employer."
- Avoid industries and jobs where your particular disability can be a major real -- or perceived -- barrier.
A self-described "empowered" individual I.V. offers this insight:
"If you want to work within a certain distance from your home and are not successful you might want to expand the territory.. . You may also need to have some flexibility in the type of job you are looking to get."
- Be resourceful in locating companies which are already familiar with the value of physically disabled employees. Visit with the HR directors of large companies to find out if they currently employ people with disabilities and ask what types of positions they hold.
Here are two ideas generated through the questionnaire for pinpointing high-potential employers who hire individuals with disabilities:
- Refine the concept of a job fair with a broad disability focus. Instead, invite companies to a job fair specifically for job candidates with visual impairments. (from M.A.)
- Compile a list of companies (with people to contact) which have expressed an interest in hiring individual with disabilities as interns.
(from D.L.)
- Consider positioning your job search as a research project. A barrier to one employer may not be a barrier to another. So, identifying the employer's perception of various barriers occurs throughout the job search process as you approach new employers. For each prospective employer, try to turn a perceived barrier he or she sees in you into a selling point for why you should be hired. If a specific employer is not receptive to you as a job candidate because of your disability, move on. There are other opportunities waiting.
K.B. is apparently a college student and has a good grasp about negotiating accommodations with receptive employers. It's a two-way street, K.B. writes, adding:
"Be up-front with people about what you need. For example, inform your employer about what kinds of accommodations you will need to access a computer and get to and from work.
"However, you really need to be willing to make compromises. You might prefer to get to work using regular city transit. (But), your employer might want you work after the transit has shut down for the day. If this occurs, you might need to resort to an alternative form of transportation such as a cab or lift service.
"In addition, if your employer is concerned about excessive noise in the workplace, you might need to plug a headset into your speech synthesizer or use a braille display, if you require a screen reader to access a computer."
- Remember that companies are in business to make money. If you can prove that you can make the company money (in exchange for being paid as an employee), your disability will likely be ignored as a perceived barrier.
Here's J.L.'s comment (generated from last week's questionnaire), which shows an understanding of how to create win-win situations in employee-employer relationships:
"I have the utmost confidence in e-Sight's resources, for I have come extremely close on several occasions of landing gratifying employment through e-Sight's assistance. Currently, I am working with an e-Sight-generated resource that has (possibilities) of creating a position for me that will be meaningful, satisfying and profitable for everyone."
- Consider creating your own job function -- and marketing it to the right company. That involves showing a hiring manager how you can fill a specific need within an organization or company -- a function he or she hasn't thought about before but makes business sense because what you are offering to do for pay is to help that individual ease a pain or attain a gain.
M.B.'s comment pinpoints a prerequisite for creating your own job within an organization or company:
"Make yourself an expert in an area where experts are needed. If you are an expert and if you are needed, then you will have a much easier time."
Approaching your job search from both a research and marketing perspective enables you to change where you look for the best employment opportunities for you at this stage in your career. It gives you flexibility. It gives you freedom.
Which one of these tactics resonates with you because you've used it yourself or believe it's the best fit for you as you prepare to market yourself? Tell us about it.
Please submit your thoughts now on the
"eSight Networking Forum." Most of us on eSight either have specific experience in overcoming barriers to actually break into the mainstream job market or we have a desire to do so. In each case, we have an obligation to our fellow eSight members to describe what we have learned or desire to learn.
That's the purpose of the eSight: to bring together those who have "done it" and those who want to "do it" so we can learn from each other.
If you have not already told us about how you would describe your employment situation, how you use eSight and what we can do to improve our services to you as an eSight member, please do so now by writing to
MemberServices@eSight.org and put the word "feedback" in the subject line.
We want to hear from you if you're:
- unemployed and need a job, or
- you work but you're in a situation that is frustrating and not meaningful for you, or
- you're satisfied with your present work situation, or
- you help other people get jobs.
Your feedback is very important to us because it helps us in program planning and helps in fundraising. Funders, after all, want to hear first-hand how you value eSight.
Your feedback is very important to us because it helps us in program planning and helps in fundraising. Funders, after all, want to hear first-hand how you value eSight.
