When seeking employment, we want to be hired on the merits of our experience, skills and education. The fact that many of us have a disability, is a part of the equation, but should not be the focus. I have been referred to organisations that specialise in providing services to job seekers with disabilities. In my experience, I found that the consultants did not have the specialist knowledge of my profession, but focused more on adapting my resume to accommodate the types of roles that they felt were appropriate for me. This approach made me feel disempowered and I sought assistance from mainstream recruiters. I then felt the need to withhold information about my disability and did not receive the support or adjustments necessary for me to maintain employment.
It should not be taken for granted that a job seeker with a disability is currently receiving a Centrelink payment or has an NDIS plan. They may already be employed and are looking to move to another employer. Others are returning to work, after an acquired disability. There can be many reasons for a person not having access to government funded disability services and those ineligible often feel isolated and unsupported.
My role is of an employment advisor, specialising in assisting job seekers with disabilitites. I purposely do not use the term "disabled job seekers", as my focus is primarily on assisting and supporting the person in their quest for meaningful and lasting employment. My person-centred service starts with understanding the person's career ambitions, building a great resume/CV and then addressing any requirements for workplace adjustments.
My approach empowers the job seeker to make their own choices in the type of employment they are seeking. I encourage them to apply for positions in the open job market that match their experience, skills and education, keeping in mind that they may require workplace adjustments in order to fulfil the requirements of the position to the same standard as any other application.
As part of onboarding, we will discuss their disability, its impact on their ability to work and how much information they would be willing to share with prospective employers. This will be detailed in an agreement between us and form part of a consent form, that must be signed before I start providing support. I do not share any information that can be regarded as clinical. It is only the type of information that can be used to determine what, if any, workplace adjustments are required.
When the client identifies a position they want to apply for, I will contact the recruiter or employer to discuss the position and the job seeker's resume. I will introduce myself as an independent disability employment advisor, not affiliated with Inclusive Employment Australia (formally DES). My fees are payable by the employer, which means I am able to provide my service free to job seekers. However, there is a risk that prospective employers or recruiters will be reluctant to pay for my services.
My service is not limited to job seekers working in professions. Anyone who has enough work experience to create a resume is eligible.
Depending on individual requirements, this service can include, but is not limited to: