As the economy continues to
shed jobs, many legal firms and other employers have become more cautious about
hiring. Unfortunately, disabled
job seekers are often hit hardest. According to government statistics, in any
given month well over 16 percent of people with disabilities are unemployed,
well above the national average.
But there are some things that disabled job seekers can do to increase
their chances of finding employment:
- Consider in advance if and/or how your disability
could impact the position you're applying for. If there will be no impact you may choose to not
disclose the disability. You are not required to disclose a disability to
an employer. But of course, if you need special accommodations, i.e. a wheelchair
ramp or devices for the blind, you will need to disclose the disability.
- Talk to the legal recruiter about their
recruitment process. Know all of the steps in the legal recruiter's
process will help you prepare. Will you need accommodations? If so, you
can request those accommodations in advance if you prepare. Make sure you
understand exactly what you need and be able to clearly explain your needs
to the employer/recruiter.
- If you have significant work gaps in your resume
because of your disability, it may in fact benefit you to discuss this in
the cover letter or interview.
For example, if you were an active duty armed forces member who was
injured in the line of duty, mentioning this could serve as a candid window
into your life experiences and your ability to overcome adversity.
One final thought on
disclosing your disability. If
your disability requires accommodations on the part of the employer, it would
be unwise to wait until the last minute to disclose the disability and your accommodation
needs--i.e. showing up for the interview in a wheelchair could create
unnecessary embarrassment for an employer who had an interview location with no
wheelchair access. Disclosing your need for a ramp would eliminate this problem
and get the relationship off to the right start.