Getting a job when you have a disability.

patman99

I have now been out of work for 8 weeks. I must have applied for well over 50 jobs. Unfortuanatley, all I seem to get are 'thank you, but you were not lucky this time' letters.

I have a small disability, this being no thumb on my left hand (I also have an as-yet undiagnosed lung disorder & mild cataracts in my eyes (soon to be removed)). I have the feeling that by mentioning my first ailment on application forms that potential employers simply make their minds up that I can't do whatever job it is they have to offer, even though I'm very adaptable & have spent the last 20 years working around this particular disability.

My only concern is that if I leave my disability off the relevant section of the form, then get an interview, they will see my injury and not give me the job as they would consider me to have lied on the form.

Hammyman

If it doesn't affect your ability to do the job, I say don't put it down and let them bring it up in interview, replying that as it wasn't an issue in doing the job it didn't occur to you to mention it.

purplefiona

Its pretty difficult deciding whether to fill in the disability bit of the forms. However I would say that you do need to mention it because you are then technically covered under the DDA, though it doesn't mean much.

Perhaps get your CV looked at by a professional? maybe its not the disability perhaps they are looking for specific stuff thats not on your CV but could be? Like, a skills statement or something. Can you do some free training in the meantime??

Also have you tried going to meet people or calling them rather than email applications? Can be a more effective way of getting work.

santacruz_2

8 weeks isn't a long time to be out of work so it might not have anything to do with your disability. I take it you don't say anything
about your lung problems?

malkie76

I doubt it's your minor disability - I'm assuming you cope just fine and it wouldn't impact on your work. It's more like the current climate and the hundreds of people applying for the few positions available.

If you put you have a disability on an application form to my company we have to offer you an interview (even if you are completely inappropriate for the position). It's not the law, just company policy. My point is that many employers are aware of people with disabilities and trying to ensure they are not discriminated against (although you could argue getting an automatic interview is positive discrimination).

cmw1212

malkie76 wrote: »

I doubt it's your minor disability - I'm assuming you cope just fine and it wouldn't impact on your work. It's more like the current climate and the hundreds of people applying for the few positions available.

If you put you have a disability on an application form to my company we have to offer you an interview (even if you are completely inappropriate for the position). It's not the law, just company policy. My point is that many employers are aware of people with disabilities and trying to ensure they are not discriminated against (although you could argue getting an automatic interview is positive discrimination).

That's interesting. I know I've seen on job specs disabled applicants who meet the criteria are guaranteed an interview but I would have assumed that were they missing a vital skill they would get no further.
sorry to have gone a bit OT. OP i agree with others on here- it probably is the economic climate at the moment

pinkshoes

In theory a disability would make you MORE likely to get an interview.

Some people on here with no disability are applying for 50 jobs a week, and it's been months and they still can't find work.

patman99

I had some training lined-up to become an ISO Auditor and NVQ Assessor, but the change of Gov. may well have changed all that. My training providers have told me that the R2R funding has been cancelled.

I have arranged a 'better-off calculation' with the Jobcentre for Friday, so at least I'll know what the minimum wage I can physically work for is.

My CV was created by a professional CV company. I have also posted it on Reed, Fish4Jobs and Monster.

If I'm still unemployed after 13 weeks then I can speak to Businesslink via a jobcentre workshop so may well end up as self employed.

LondonDiva

malkie76 wrote: »

If you put you have a disability on an application form to my company we have to offer you an interview (even if you are completely inappropriate for the position). It's not the law, just company policy. My point is that many employers are aware of people with disabilities and trying to ensure they are not discriminated against (although you could argue getting an automatic interview is positive discrimination).

Then your organisation is devaluing the two ticks shceme and making it difficult for disabled people to get a proper go in the work place.

The two ticks scheme says if the disabled person meets the minimum cruiteria for the job (the essentials, but not the desirables) they should get an interview.

Interviewing any disabled person that applies implies a tickbox exercise, rather than the best candidate for the job.

Horace

OP - speak to your Disability Employment Advisor at the jobcentre as he/she will be able to help. You could also try the Shaw Trust as this is a charitable organisation that helps disabled people find work and also Remploy.

Usually the DDA form is separated from your application anyway but it pays to be honest.

I have limited vision in my left eye due to glaucoma but it has never stopped me from doing my job, when I was an employee I worked twice as hard as everyone else to prove that I could do things.

patman99

That's the funny thing. At my last employers I had quite a reputation for working even when ill or carrying an injury.

I spent 18 months on painkillers when I did my elbow in (rsi caused through incorrect training), yet I only had 3 days off in total.

As I have to go sign-on this Friday, I will ask to speak to a D/A. At the moment everything is up in the air as I have no idea just how low an hourly rate I can accept and still pay my bills. I will find this out on Friday.

My spouse is in an even worse position when it comes to job hunting, she suffers from severe asthma. She can't work with anything scented, or any chemicals. She spent last Friday night in Hospital.