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Youthabilities - The Interview
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is the first and the most important step in your job search process. By understanding your strengths, abilities as well as your, weaknesses and areas of improvement, you are building a stronger foundation.
Begin by assessing your abilities – specific to the job you are being interviewed for. To do this, read over your resume and pull out the three most relevant and important skills in either your previous work / volunteer / school experiences. Make a mental note on what they are and repeat them to yourself so you are prepared to talk about them at the interview.
In this same process of self-awareness, it is important to look at how your disability relates to the position you are being interviewed for. Here are some important questions to ask yourself:
- How comfortable are you in discussing your disability?
- Have you done your research with regards to accommodation in the workplace?
- Does your disability impact what you will be doing on the job?
- If yes, are there any accommodations that you will need from the employer?
Anticipating potential difficulties gives you the opportunity to identify possible compensatory techniques, or possible accommodations. Employers are likely to be impressed by your problem-solving skills!
Disclosure: Your Choice
If / when to disclose is a question that a person with disability faces at least once in his / her life. The matter of disclosing is up to the individual and with whether or not they feel comfortable in disclosing.
If you do choose to disclose at this point there are several things to consider. When to disclose is often a very strategic process. See below chart for a list of advantages and disadvantages on disclosing.
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Advantages in Disclosing |
Disadvantages in Disclosing |
When the employer calls to invite you to an interview |
- The employer is unlikely to withdraw his/her invitation for the interview as he or she would not wish to appear prejudiced.
- You have had time to prepare a positive message of disclosure
- The employer will have time to adjust, before the interview, to the idea of possibly hiring persons with disabilities
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- You are not choosing the precise time of disclosure, which may mean that you are not completely prepared to disclose in the most positive manner possible. i.e., You may not feel the same amount of control as if you had chosen the time.
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Disclosure when you first meet at the interview |
- Human rights legislation dictates that an interviewer’s questions should not discriminate on the basis of disability.
- By disclosing and talking about your disability to the employer, they see you as being comfortable and confident.
- If you continue to talk about some of the accommodations you may or may not need, the employer will be impressed with you ability to research and problem solve.
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- Nevertheless, in reality, if you refuse to answer questions that appear to be discriminatory it is very unlikely that you will be offered the job.
- If you need accommodation on the job and you have not disclosed, this could jeopardize your professional relationship with the employer and hinder you in performing your job duties to the employer’s expectations.
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Research – Review – Reiterate
Most times, the question on whether to disclose or not, depends on your disability and whether or not you need accommodation. If you are going to disclose, it is important to research and prepare in advance so you not looking for answers at the last minute.
Some important questions to ask yourself before you get that call for an interview are:
- If I don’t disclose, will it affect my work performance?
- Is my disability visible?
- If I do disclose, should I disclose over the phone or at the interview?
- Do I need accommodations for my interview?
- At the interview, when do I feel the most comfortable and confident disclosing my disability?
- Am I prepared to answer the employer’s questions on the types of accommodations I need?
- How do most people react when they learn about my disability? How do I deal with their reactions?
- How will my employer react to the disclosure? If it is an invisible disability, will they think I’m are dishonest? How will I react to their reaction?
- If I disclose, will I be able to reassure my employer that my disability will not affect my ability to do the work?
- What do I know about this employer’s policies and experiences regarding people with disabilities?
Disclosure and the Interview
If you decide to disclose your disability in an interview, follow these suggestions:
- Mention your disability when the interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself.”
- Talk about your disability briefly, clearly and without being defensive.
- Tell the employer about any accommodations or coping strategies you’ve developed as a result of your disability to reinforce the proactive steps you’ve taken.
- Be concise. Say something like, “For the last three years, I’ve been dealing with a medical issue but it’s under control now and I’m ready to work.” Legally, the interviewer can only ask questions about your disability that relate directly to the requirements of the job.
- Be prepared to explain any gaps an interviewer might spot in your resume, even if you decide not to talk about your disability.
- Stay positive! Return the focus to the skills, experience and enthusiasm you’ll bring to the position and what you can do for the organization. Emphasize your coping strategies.
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