Professional Development Seminar Summary: How to Get and Have A Successful Job Interview

Author:  James R. Hasse

Panelists

Peter Newman, President, Diversity Services,
New York City. Honored as "Corporate Exemplar" by
Educational Equity Concepts in December 2000.

David Price, former Human Resources Specialist,
PepsiCo. Currently weather personality. Fox Five News,
"Good Day, New York."

1. Diversity Employment Services is the only
   temporary hiring service in the U.S. which specializes
   in placement of individuals who have diverse
   backgrounds in terms of disability, culture, age and
   sexual orientation.
   
   
2. There's diversity in all of us, and we need to
   change our society's concepts about disability. That's
   a difficult task.
   
   
3. We need to show CEOs there's an untapped
   workforce among the 49 million Americans who have a
   disability. About 85 percent of those people have no
   job, yet many of them have a work history. They have
   skills and talents.
   
   
4. Many of the individuals within this untapped
   workforce are ready to work. Diversity Employment
   Services opened five years ago and is now a $10
   million-a-year business. In New York, we receive 30 to
   40 applicants a week. We help them obtain job
   interviews and temporary assignments.
   

David Price, Introductory Comments

1. There's ambivalence and ignorance about
   people with disabilities in organizations. We need to
   accept that reality, get inside organizations and help
   plant the seeds of change.
   
   
2. The goal is to become part of an organization
   that suits your skills and provides an environment in
   which you can thrive.
   
   
3. Finding the right job is like finding a wife.
   You're looking for one good match. That means you're
   probably going to have a lot of interviews that don't
   result in a job with that particular organization.
   
   
4. When you get inside an organization, partner with
   someone who understands your goal.
   
   
5. Convince the interviewer you're the best
   candidate. Take this approach: "Here's how I can help
   you if you can recognize my differences and help me
   adjust to your organization's environment. You'll get
   a payback for that extra effort." That's much more
   effective than simply saying, "Help me."
   

Questions and Answers

Question: When and how do you tell a
prospective employer about your visual impairment?

David Price: Be honest, be up front about
your disability. Then focus on your skills and how you
can contribute to the company's success.

Peter Newman: There's always a fear factor
about liability because you have a disability. You
need to recognize and address that fear right
away.

Question: How do I make a transition in my
career to a job in the travel agency business? I have
customer service experience.

Peter Newman: Learn about everything you
can about the travel business and the systems it uses.

David Price: Select the top 10 agencies in
town, write a letter to each, asking if they have in-
house training programs. Never be afraid to change
organizations. Break out of your comfort zone.

Peter Newman: Yes, try. It means taking a
risk, but that helps you grow. I was a rehab services
director at one time. I've also managed seven men's
clothing stores.

Question: How does a person hired for a
temporary or trial job get funding for adaptive
technology?

Peter Newman: We struggle with that issue
every day. It's a barrier.

David Price: Organizations buy computer
equipment in bulk. Special equipment always raises
questions: Is it tied to a specific job or a specific
person? Your interviewer is probably nervous, so put
him at ease. Use salesmanship in your interview. For
instance, say: "Let's make a deal. Partner with me to
obtain the equipment I need to do this work, and I'll
be grateful on a personal level."

Peter Newman: Be aware of what you need for
equipment. Answer your interviewer's unasked
questions. He doesn't know what he can't ask.

Question: I have a slight visual impairment and
a new grad in communications. I've been mentioning
my impairment at the end of interviews, and that
totally changes the complexion of the interview. What
should I do?

David Price: Expect to go through a lot of
interviews. Tell about your visual impairment first
and then put it into perspective in terms of what you
can contribute to the organization. Help the
interviewer relax and become comfortable. Get the
interviewer to talk.

Question: Is it a good idea to apply for grants
to help fund adaptive technology?

Peter Newman: Yes, but the time frame is
the problem, especially in a temporary job setting. We
need lending libraries, funded by a consortium of
organizations, for adaptive equipment, so newly hired
people can start work right away.

Question: What happens at the end of a
temporary job assignment in your agency?

Peter Newman: Usually 18 to 20 percent of
our temporary employees go on to full-time employment.
That's higher than the national average.

Question: I've had 150 job interviews since
1988. I find most interviewers have no background in
disability. How can I prevent a turnoff?

David Price: Don't hide the fact you have a
disability. Help the interviewer become comfortable
with it by putting it into perspective. As a job
candidate, one of your responsibilities is to educate
the interviewer. Think yourself as a teacher in
helping raise awareness. We still have a long ways to
go.

Question: How do I handle lapses in employment?

Peter Newman: Write a functional resume
instead of a chronological one. Focus on your skills
and results. If the lapse comes up in the interview,
tell the truth.

David Price: Today resumes are not read by
human eyes. They're put into a database by a scanner
so they can searched by key word. So write your resume
with key words in mind and then tell your career story
in your cover letter. Don't mask the lapse.