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4 Employment Tips for Disabled Workers

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Getting a job is tough enough without having to overcome the limitation of your disability. Sometimes it may not even be your disability holding you back, but people’s antiquated assumptions about your ability to work.

The social stigma around disabled workers is changing but not fast enough. Fortunately, you can put some measures in place to help yourself stand out as a qualified applicant. Use these five suggestions to help you get through your next job search.

1. Get A Clear Understanding Of Your Strengths And Weakness

The more you understand yourself, the easier it is to explain your value to potential employers. Finding the right employment fit requires knowing your goals, preferences, and needs in relation to your disability. Things like preferring to work in a quiet environment, without technology or avoiding certain tasks are important to identify before starting your job hunt.

It’s also worth your time to tailor your resume and elevator pitch to speak about how you can help different employers. Try to clearly detail the skills you have and how you’ve used them to help people in the past. Draw on volunteer experience, academic experience, and extracurricular activities to help define how you can provide value.

2. Consult With Local Agencies And See If They Can Help With Placement

Fortunately, there are quite a few employment agencies that specialize in finding jobs for the disabled. It’s always important to remember to not rely fully on the agency during your job hunt. It’s important to continue applying for jobs on your own. Employment agencies serve a lot of people, and it may take a while to see results.

However, the benefit of these employment agencies is they can introduce you to positions that you’re uniquely positioned to succeed at. Opportunities usually start with a volunteer position that allows you to gain on the job experience while showcasing your work ethic. Excelling in an unpaid position can help lead to a permanent position in the future. These agencies can also put you in contact with an employment lawyer if you feel you were unjustly let go from your previous position. 

3. Spend Extra Time Improving Your Resume

Having a quality resume is essential for a successful job hunt. It’s worth having a career support counselor, professional acquaintance or using a resume service to get your resume objectively reviewed. Companies are looking for people with skills to match the gaps that need to be filled in their company. Customizing your resume by position and industry will help your applications stand out.

In addition to a quality resume, try spending some time developing your portfolio. A strong portfolio makes it easy for potential employers to see what you can do. In addition to your portfolio try and get references to vouch for your experience.

4. Practice Interviewing To Get Comfortable

If you’re not used to interviewing, chances are you’re going to struggle in your first few job interviews. People who practice interview situations almost always feel more comfortable in the actual session. Working on your elevator pitch, developing answers to common questions and learning more about the company will help you make an impression in the interview.

Try and practice with a friend or family member to get comfortable. Although it can be tough, practicing with a stranger is better for simulating the real experience. Strangers are also more likely to give you objective advice. If you have a speech impediment or another type of communication disability, practicing will help you maintain control of the situation once its interview time.

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