CV for disabled student

hustle90

I'm a college student in my first year. I'm 17 years old and am looking at getting a part time job in the afternoons or at the weekends. I'm at college from 8am to 3pm Monday to Friday.

One of my friends has got a job at M&S from 4PM till 9PM Monday-Friday and 9-5 on Sundays. He's very lucky to get a job with those hours. I'd be happy with just a weekend job if I cannot get 'evening hours' job.

I'm writing my CV and have so far based it like this .

Details - Name, d.o.b, nationality, address, phone numbers
About me - Where i'm currently studying and what i'm studying and that i hope to go to university to pursue a career in computer engineering and editing.
Work experience - I did 2 weeks work experience in 2006 and i've volunteered to help in the special learning department at my school/college (6 form actually).
Exam results - where i took my gcse's - grades (5 a-c's and a gnvq in ICT)
What i do in my spare time - i put that i participate in group activites and that this year i'm participating in world youth day in july.
Referees - I've put one of the teachers i know very well at my school and a family friend


I need some advice. I have a disability. I'm registered partially sighted/blind (I'm blind in my left eye and half in my right). Also, because of my eye condition (It's called FEVR), I don't look directly at people when I talk to them. i look slightly to the right..... Should I explain this in my CV or covering letter?. I'd prefer that the employer knows this instead of me turning up at an interview if i get one and have to explain from scratch... I would like to include this but unfortunately I feel that employers are less likely to even look for someone like me over someone that hasn't got a disability. I know there is these 'fair chance' policies these days, but this still bothers me.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

vodkawitch1

Ever large employer has to take a percentage of employees who are disabled. Most large employers do want to fill this percentage as it makes them look like a caring company. I would simply say you have an eye condition called FEVR and leave it at that. You can explain more at interview. Too much information allow to many excuses to say no. Go get that job and lots of luck.

CarolynH

Personally, I wouldn't mention it on your CV, but would mention it at interview. Not looking people in the eye can sometimes be interpreted as a lack of interpersonal skills - at interview you can show that you can demonstrate these skills in other ways.

As an aside, you don't need to put your DOB or nationality in a CV either.

dmg24

I am pretty sure that Marks and Spencer will want you to complete one of their application forms, so it might be worth contacting them before sending in a cv. The application form will ask if you have a disability, but it will not affect your chances of getting an interview, M&S tend to be very fair on these things.

Good luck! x

Sassa

Have you heard of Skill? It is the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. They are hugely helpful and should be able to give you lots of advice on CV writing and application forms. They have a free helpline:
0800 328 5050 or check out: http://www.skill.org.uk/

I believe it's against the law to discriminate because of disability. I imagine M&S are a reputable company in terms of equality & diversity.

Good luck!

Lynxette

Personally, I would mention it but in a positive light - IE, say that you have succeeded against it to be in college full time, rather than just mentionning that you have it. Other than that, I wouldn't mention any more.

scorpio_princess

Whether to declare a disability on a cv or not is a difficult one. I also have a disability (although mine affects my back and legs) and this has worried me in the past. Although I know that most large companies need to fulfill a quota of disabled people, part of me feels that I don't want to be a 'token disabled person' - I want to get a job based on my own merit and compete alongside everyone else. I also worry that although employers are *supposed* to give equal opportunity, is there anything to stop them simply casting a disabled person's cv to one side because they've already fulfilled their quota? My own disability actually looks worse on paper - once people meet me, they see that it doesn't actually stop me doing much, or impair my ability to perform most work-based tasks.

Having said all that, it's probably a good thing to be honest from the outset. Like another poster said, a lot of companies have application forms rather than CVs, and to not put details of any disability on there would constitute as being dishonest, so that kind of decides things for you!

Sorry if I haven't been very helpful - I just wanted to let you know that you're not alone.

affordmylife

if you dont feel that your disability hold you back in doing any particular job then just go for it.

i think you could mention it on CV but like previously said enhance the strength of your other skills and how you are able to perform relevant tasks sucessfully.

Oldernotwiser

Companies haven't had to fill a quota of disabled employees for some years since the Registered Disabled Scheme finished.

OP have you thought of applying less formally? Many people get Saturday jobs by going around in person (when they're not busy) and asking about vacancies. I wouldn't worry too much about having a CV at this stage as application forms are normal and CVs for this sort of work aren't usually appropriate.
Good luck.

GlasweJen

I never mention my disabilities until the interview stage because then I can really show that being disabled doesn't make me a bad employee.

Remember if you work more than 16 hours a week you can claim tax credits even as a disabled student. I do and it really tops up the income (stick some figures into entitledto.com to see how much by).

pinkshoes

Concentrate on your work experience on your CV, and a mini personal statement highlighting your skills, and what you can bring to the company.

I wouldn't mention being disabled on your CV, as that's irrelevant to the job.

If it's a disability that will affect your performance in the interview, then politely tell them at the start of the interview i.e. say something along the lines of "Apologies if I don't look at you directly, but I have an eye condition"