I had an interview but....

GlasweJen

It was an interview in the public sector.

The application asked if I had any disabilities - I crossed physical and sensory impairment. It asked if I needed any accessibility arrangements and I wrote that I'm in a wheelchair - all fine.

Letter comes in inviting me to interview, explains that I will need to do a typing test, I re-read the list of equipment and thought "no, I won't need anything extra".

The interview went well enough but the typing test turned out to be audio typing! The lady just walked me to the room where the test was taking place, asked "have you used winscribe" i got out "yes, but" and she was gone!

I managed most of the task by taking out my hearing aids and listening through the provided headphones. Not heard anything back yet but I was wondering should I write to the recruitment team and point out that they should word their letter differently in case this sort of thing happens to someone with a larger loss than mine?

kpwll

A suggestion that they should put 'Audio typing test' would be a good idea. I wish you good luck and hope you have an affirmative reply very soon.

Not being rude but doesn't hearing loss come under sensory impairment? Surely they should have asked what your (sensory) disability was!!!

Indie_Kid

kpwll wrote: »

A suggestion that they should put 'Audio typing test' would be a good idea. I wish you good luck and hope you have an affirmative reply very soon.

Not being rude but doesn't hearing loss come under sensory impairment? Surely they should have asked what your (sensory) disability was!!!

Yes it does. Sensory loss is hearing and sight loss.

Savvy_Sue

kpwll wrote: »

A suggestion that they should put 'Audio typing test' would be a good idea.

Definitely. Apart from anything else, I wouldn't apply for a job which involved audio typing because I know it would fry my brain to wear headphones a lot, with or without my hearing aid.

kpwll wrote: »

Not being rude but doesn't hearing loss come under sensory impairment? Surely they should have asked what your (sensory) disability was!!!

I'd say it was the applicant's responsbility to disclose, personally. If I'd seen the application I might well have emailed before the interview to check whether the 'sensory' box had been ticked by mistake, but really I need applicants to tell me what adjustments they need me to make.

GlasweJen

There was nowhere on the form to disclose - it was an electronic form and just ticking boxes with nowhere to add notes without putting it on the bit that the interviewer would see (which I was told is a complete no).

I will drop HR a polite email just pointing out that the job didn't require using audio typing and nowhere did it indicate that the typing test would have an audio component so perhaps people were inadvertantly being disadvantaged.

Savvy_Sue

Ah, I invite people to send details separately (in a sealed envelope if they're applying by post) if they will need any adjustments made - this could cover anything from being in a wheelchair to wanting to work compressed hours because of caring responsibilities. It's not seen at the shortlisting stage, but would be looked at before interview. I think the only one I've ever had was someone who wanted to work compressed hours because they lived quite a way away, and I've also had someone say after the interview that they would have liked more time for the written assessment because they were dyslexic - but they didn't say beforehand so ???

I hope I never have to job hunt again, but I would now declare my hearing loss. Probably something along the lines of "you probably won't notice in an interview situation, but I do have a hearing loss and struggle to hear in noisy situations and meetings."

garfield413

GlasweJen wrote: »

It was an interview in the public sector.

The application asked if I had any disabilities - I crossed physical and sensory impairment. It asked if I needed any accessibility arrangements and I wrote that I'm in a wheelchair - all fine.

Letter comes in inviting me to interview, explains that I will need to do a typing test, I re-read the list of equipment and thought "no, I won't need anything extra".

The interview went well enough but the typing test turned out to be audio typing! The lady just walked me to the room where the test was taking place, asked "have you used winscribe" i got out "yes, but" and she was go

I managed most of the task by taking out my hearing aids and listening through the provided headphones. Not heard anything back yet but I was wondering should I write to the recruitment team and point out that they should word their letter differently in case this sort of thing happens to someone with a larger loss than mine?

Usually the interviewer wouldn't see the portion of the form where you disclosed a disability. That portion is removed by HR so that the interviewers don't look at you any differently (in case of hidden disability, etc). HR receive the application form and at that stage should have contacted you to determine if you needed any reasonable adjustments for the interview stage. It's important, especially for civil service recruitment, to have this highlighted to them so neither you nor other applicants who have disabilities are disadvantaged. I think civil service has the two tick scheme as well which is another reason to have a chat with them. Good luck

GlasweJen

Any advice on how to word the email so that it doesn't sound like I'm making an excuse. So far I have:

Dear (HR person who invited me to interview),

I attended an interview at X for the position of Y on (date).
In the invitation to the interview I was advised that there would be a typing test, unfortunately when I attended for interview I found that this was an audio typing test. Had I been made aware of this I would have supplied a head set to listen to the recording through, unfortunately this was not made clear in the letter nor during the interview.

As there was no one from the interview team around I was unable to point out that the task would take longer than the allocated time due to me not having the correct adjustments in place.

I would be grateful if you could review your policy to ensure that someone with a hearing disability is not disadvantaged at further interview for similar positions.

how does that sound?

Savvy_Sue

I think I might put in after the first sentence something like 'on the application form there were boxes to tick to indicate whether I had a physical or sensory disability, and I ticked both boxes as I am a wheelchair user with both sight and hearing loss [if that's right, I may have picked up the wrong info]. I also mentioned [wherever you did] that I was a wheelchair user but there did not seem to be any scope for describing the adjustments I would need in an interview.'

Then rather than the bit about 'there was no-one from the interview team around' I'd explain how you were put in a room and left without having a chance to explain your needs: the assumption might be that if you had a problem you'd put your head outside the door and say so ...

GlasweJen

The interview was in a different building to the one with the test and the woman just "walked me over" as her office was in the original building.

There were 2 women in the room where the typing test was but they couldn't help as they didn't use the programme so didn't know what to do either - I think they might have been from a different team entirely.

I'll think a bit more on how to word it.