Special Events
- Mark Discussion as New
- Mark Discussion as Read
- Float this Discussion for Current User
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Printer Friendly Page
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
25-10-2016 10:18 AM
25-10-2016 10:18 AM
Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
What's the best advice you have ever been given for finding work as a person with a MI?
This week we will be opening up the forum to you and asking the question 'what's the best advice you've ever been given for finding work as a person with a MI or a disability?'
It can be very difficult to find work when you have a mental illness or disability.
We know there are many challenges to be faced and overcome. Many of us fortunately manage to do it (even if just for short periods) and quite often it's because of the advice with been given.
So this Friday we hope to learn some from your experiences!
Please join @Renstar from Ostara this Friday at 12pm for Career Chat.
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
25-10-2016 07:40 PM
25-10-2016 07:40 PM
Re: Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
28-10-2016 11:24 AM
28-10-2016 11:24 AM
Re: Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
Good morning @NikNik thanks @pip for your comments and welcome to today's forum. In this forum I'm asking 'what was the best advice you have received for finding a job ?'
The fact is that many people with disabilities want to work, but face employment barriers that may result in lower employment successes.
I thought we could look to those employed people with disabilities for valuable experience that could help others seeking employment ...
Please join in the conversation 😀
I recently was asked advice about disclosure and I think a lot of people want advice about the same thing.
Today I found a great article in which a focus group provided some interesting insight into disclosure ...
The results showed disclosure and discussion (about MI) decisions were influenced by the nature of disability (visible, hidden, stigmatized, multiple), whether and when people needed accommodations, and the perceived “disability-friendliness” of organisations.
Interview strategies included ways to emphasise strengths, gather information about duties and work environment, handle inappropriate questions, and address unspoken employer concerns.
Participants gave disability-specific advice to help job-seekers balance their abilities and interests, and use networking and the hidden job market to find favorable opportunities.
Findings suggest approaches to assist job-seekers to make decisions about disclosing or discussing their disability including;
- present themselves in a straight-forward,
- disability-positive manner,
- and find satisfying work based on their skills and interests.
How can you achieve these things?
Are these elements relevant to you ? ... have you ever been given this advice?
Please join in!
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
28-10-2016 11:35 AM
28-10-2016 11:35 AM
Re: Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
28-10-2016 11:48 AM
28-10-2016 11:48 AM
Re: Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
Hi @Former-Member thanks for that contribution ... Yeah I used a lot of the articles' language
.... so it's not you ... This was not most my readable post
i think you've pointed to one of the most challenging aspects of finding work - the job you find is often not what you planned. Or dreamed of.
Within a program that I run we do an exercise that helps participants acknowledge and grieve the 'loss of dreams' (maybe those related to previous work/study) ... The result is that by the end clients have new dreams and a new appreciation for their current skills and capabilities ...
... Sounds like that's where you're at
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
28-10-2016 11:55 AM
28-10-2016 11:55 AM
Re: Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
But I enjoy what I am doing right now, so that makes it easier. 🙂
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
28-10-2016 12:12 PM
28-10-2016 12:12 PM
Re: Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
Thanks @Former-Member great comments.
Letting go of dreams can be a big hurdle for every person with a diagnosis of MI
so some good advice would be to work on letting go of your old 'dreams' by using self development tools/psychological or career counsellor (or set reflection!)
to focus on new possibilities that still give you a sense of achievement and utilise your skills and abilities ...
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
28-10-2016 02:48 PM
28-10-2016 02:48 PM
Re: Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
Advice about disclosure...
It depends largely on whether it's a hidden or visible disability according to the research.
Note:
The following is is not my advice, it is research from an article.
Whether to Disclose/Acknowledge Disability
People’s opinions about disclosure were strongly influenced by the nature of their disabilities, including visibility, stigma associated with the disability, and number of disabilities.
They also made decisions about disclosure based on the type of organization and their perceptions about the “disability-friendliness” of the culture.
Visible Disabilities
In general, people with more visible disabilities, including those who used wheelchairs, white canes, or other assistive devices, thought it was important to discuss their disability early in the employment process, usually during the job interview.
People with obvious disabilities characterized discussion with employers as an acknowledgement more than a disclosure of disability.
They took the opportunity to put the interviewer at ease and to proactively emphasize how they handle their disabilities so they do not affect doing the job well.
Hidden Disabilities
About one-third of respondents reported having a disability that other people might not recognize. People with hidden disabilities characterized disability disclosure as a personal choice.
Some of them openly disclosed their hidden disability in the job interview just like those with visible disabilities, using the interview as a chance to explain how they would do the job with a disability.
Those who revealed their non-visible disability in job interviews were also generally open with coworkers, and they thought that revealing their disability and requesting accommodations made it easier to get promotions.
Disclosure Decisions
In the research the focus group results showed that there was often a tension between those who advocated open disclosure and discussion of disability with potential employers and those who chose not to disclose at all or to disclose rarely.
To those with obvious disabilities, the issue seemed fairly simple.
And although the groups on the whole advocated proactive discussion of disability with employers, they also stressed that each person and each situation is unique.
They urged each person with a disability to develop a narrative that emphasizes his or her strengths (whether or not disability is disclosed).
Do you have any thoughts on this research about disclosure? Anybody got other advice about disclosure?
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
28-10-2016 03:40 PM
28-10-2016 03:40 PM
Re: Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
- Mark as New
- Favourite
- Subscribe
- Get link
- Flag for Moderator
28-10-2016 03:49 PM
28-10-2016 03:49 PM
Re: Career Chat // What's the best advice? // Friday 28 Oct. 12 pm AEDT
Hi @Former-Member yes I think being armed with information which you're familiar with and able to talk about comfortably, is ideal.
In this scenario you could jointly develop a plan to accomodate your needs and this would lead to less stigma and more control over what happens ...