Disability issues at job interviews

By on September 28, 2009 in Uncategorized

Job interviews

Choosing when to talk about a disability can be a problem when attending interviews; if the disability is obvious then the only issue is when to bring it up and talk about it. If the disability is hidden then you have to decide at which point during the interview if any do you make it known. Points to think about before you attend the interview are:

If your disability is hidden

If your disability is hidden then this poses a different set of problems, most of us would probably be tempted not to disclose the disability before attending the interview or even during the interview itself. Interviewers are required by law not to ask if you have a disability but this doesn’t mean they can’t bypass this and find out in a round about way.

Prepare yourself to talk about your disability if you are asked a direct question regarding it, also if you have a feeling at anytime during the interview that the disability won’t have a negative effect on the interview now would be an excellent time to broach the subject.
Prepare yourself to answer Questions about the disability if it affected any previous positions you were in for example if you had to have time off because of the disability.
Keep things short and simple when discussing your disability and acknowledge any problem areas that could occur. For example you could discuss how you would handle any problems in the job which could be affected by your disability. Remember to particularly highlight any skills you have to counteract problems your disability could cause.

If your disability is obvious

Only attend an interview if you are quite sure that you can handle the job as it is described and that you have the qualifications needed for the position.

Take into account if you have a disability that will require any special treatment or equipment at the place of the interview, for example if you are in a wheelchair does is the place where the interview is taking place accessible to you.

Do you need an interpreter or a hearing device? If you do need help then make sure the interviewer understands this and can provide for your needs?

Knowing you need help will probably be the time when the interviewer declines or accepts you with your disability as a candidate for interviewing.

Of course just because you have a disability doesn’t mean that problems will occur but it is handy to be prepared just in case. If you are the best candidate for the position and you present yourself well then the chances are that your disability will not cause a problem.

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