Asking for Accommodations for the Job Interview

by Megan Elliott

Say you’ve been a client of ERS for a while, and we’ve found you a job that has your name all over it. You apply for it with the resume we’ve helped you create, and you’ve gotten a phone call from the company. They want you to come in for an interview!

Your career coach does mock interviews with you over and over again, and helps you feel better about the interview, but there’s something missing. There’s something that you can’t bring yourself to ask us, even though it’s a pretty important set of information. What are the rules about asking for an accommodation before the interview?

According to this factsheet, produced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there are protections in the Americans with Disabilities Act not just for those who already have a job and have a disability, but also for those who are applying for jobs. “Reasonable accommodations,” or changes or adjustments to routines or facilities that do not place undue hardships on employers, are required of employers to enable all applicants to be considered for job openings.

When asking for accommodations for the interview, keep in mind that you will be asked what would be a reasonable accommodation for you, but it’s up to the employer to decide what will be reasonable for them. If a particular accommodation would cause a monetary hardship or would significantly alter business-as-usual to the employer, then you need to recognize that and perhaps offer another alternative.

Take this as an opportunity to demonstrate your negotiation skills. Accommodations are not favors done for the applicant, they are required by law. That doesn’t entitle you to demand the accommodations, and would most likely damage your chances of receiving an offer. Demonstrate those excellent communication skills you listed on your resume, and always leave the hiring manager with a good impression of you.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, as of September 2012, 21.9% of the American labor force is disabled, and 13.5% of unemployed Americans are disabled. The need seems greater than ever before to have a solid strategy in hand for applying for jobs, for asking for accommodations once an interview is requested, and for asking for accommodations once an offer has been made.

ERS is here for you to support you throughout the process. Your career coach can help you brainstorm ideas for accommodations, and practice how to ask for them. This is your journey, but you won’t be walking it alone!

What kind of experiences have you had in asking for accommodations, for job interviews or for job offers? Share your stories with us in the comments!

National Disability Employment Awareness Month!

By Megan Elliott, Career Coach

Many people know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, but did you know that it is also National Disability Employment Awareness month?

As was posted on the White House blog on October 1, 2012, President Barack Obama outlined a challenge to all Americans, especially employers, to follow the example his administration has set regarding the hiring and retention of Americans with disabilities. To quote directly from the proclamation, “All Americans are entitled to an accessible workplace, a level playing field, and the same privileges, pursuits, and opportunities as any of their family, friends, and neighbors. This month, let us rededicate ourselves to bringing down barriers and raising up aspirations for all our people, regardless of disability, so we may share in a brighter future together.”

In July of 2010, President Obama signed Executive Order 13548, titled “Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities,” which created a structure for the recruitment, hiring, and the retention (keeping employed) of people with disabilities within the federal government. Because of this structure, today, there are now more people with disabilities working for the federal government than at any other time in the past 20 years.

America still faces an uphill climb against discrimination in the workplace against people with disabilities. We know that here at ERS, and we are here to support you if you encounter it. The Social Security Administration also has agencies available to help you understand your rights, explain your benefits if you have questions, or provide other assistance.

These agencies are:

Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS)

Beneficiary Access & Support Services (BASS)

Our Career Coaches will be happy to help you in any way you need. Just give us a call, or send us an e-mail! How can we better serve you?