The labor market is challenging as it is (especially with our current economy!), but if you are a person with a disability, you are often faced with additional obstacles in order to find meaningful employment. Statistics show that for every one interview a nondisabled person does, a person with a disability does five in order to secure a job!**
The next 5 posts are going to deal with interview tips for people with disabilities. These tips will also be helpful for workforce development professionals providing job placement services. These five strategies will help in improving the odds!
Tip #1: Decide up front whether or not you will disclose your disability. Make a list of the pros and cons of disclosure. A hidden disability may not require disclosure unless you are requesting an accommodation. You may choose to disclose an apparent disability ahead of time to ensure the interviewer focuses on you and your abilities vs. you and your disability. The decision to disclosure is yours. Do what feels comfortable, and remember, disclosure doesn’t mean telling your life story! Keep it simple, practice what you’ll say, and only share what is relevant to the job.
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