6 Tips for Job Searching with a Disability

How is the job search going? If you sighed in frustration at the question, we sympathize. Job searching is difficult for everyone, especially adults who live with disabilities. But finding the perfect fit and advancing your career is possible. No matter what challenges you’re faced with, job searching shouldn’t be more challenging than it is for every candidate out there. We have six tips to help you in your job search with a disability.

girl in brown sweater job searching online

Only Reveal What You Need To

It’s a best practice to be truthful during the interview process, but that doesn’t mean revealing every personal detail about yourself. You aren’t obligated to tell them anything more than you’re comfortable with, especially when it comes to your law-protected disability. And it’s okay to politely refuse to answer inappropriate questions. Before going in for the interview, know your rights and research which questions you’re legally free to refuse to answer. On the flip side, prepare yourself to answer the questions they are legally allowed to ask. It’s an interview; you’ll need to be properly prepared.

 

Demonstrate That You Can do the Job

This applies to any job seeker, because what better way to get the job than proving you can do it even before you’re hired? You know you can do the job, despite any obstacles that may come, so show them you can! Are you interested in a Project Manager position? Create a mock assignment for yourself and develop a PowerPoint presentation or Project Management report with input/output, budget, roles, deadlines, and results to send off with your application as a work sample. You can do this!

 

Turn to Resources

There are so many resources out there to support you. Some of these resources for adults with disabilities are specifically catered to job consulting, job search assistance, career education, and recruiting. You are not alone, and there are many professionals out there who want to help you succeed in your career. Research what resources you’ll need at each stage of the job search, and pick up the phone to talk through your struggles with those that are there to help.

 

Don’t Be Discouraged by Limitations

With any disability, there will come limitations. But don’t be discouraged by those! Everyone struggles with limitations in their personality, their talent, their skill, or their expertise. When we hit those obstacles, we pivot our strategy and process to achieve our goals. The same rule applies to job searching; whatever limitations your disability causes, lean into that and adjust your process to land the job you want.

 

Highlight Your Talents

With disabilities comes resilience and talents others don’t have – and those can be assets in your job search. You’ve learned to adjust and rely on other skills that people often have to spend years learning, and they come to you naturally. Adults with autism can be skilled with numbers, patterns, and art naturally. Adults with depression or anxiety are empathetic and great communicators. You can thrive despite life’s roadblocks, just by highlighting your talents during your job search.

 

Research Reasonable Accommodations

Adults with disabilities have the option to be reasonably accommodated, to ensure you can do your job when hired. You have every right to ask for what you need to be able to do your job and do it well. And it’s in your employers’ best interest, so you can give your best performance. Find out what reasonable accommodations can be made to help you at work, and set up a quick meeting with your Operations Manager or HR representative.

 

You can do this! Good luck with your job search, and get the job you really want. For more job search success tips, follow our blog and catch new episodes of our podcast.

 

Related Articles:

5 Ways to Identify Career Skills & Interests

5 Simple Job Search Tips That People Always Forget

Common Interview Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

The Hiring Process from the Recruiter’s POV