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?

Staying Motivated Through Your Job Search

by Megan Elliott, Career Coach

Whether you are unemployed and looking for a job or employed but searching, staying motivated through your job search can be one of the toughest challenges. Between the endless online questionnaires trying to figure out what kind of person you are, to the assumption that you have been rejected as a candidate based on the lack of rejection letters, the process can make you question your abilities at times. What you need is something to keep your focus and your drive, and here are six suggestions to help you stay on-task:

1)      Remember to love yourself. Searching for a job can be draining to even the most bound and determined of people, and as much as you need a job, you also need to focus on you during this time. Go for a walk, read a book that you’ve been meaning to, or spend time with your family or your friends; just do something that makes you happy. You’ll find a backup of strength that will help you through the search later.

2)      Work your network. Don’t just ask your family and friends for help, though they are good places to start. Chances are, a family member or a good friend has someone in their circle of friends and friends of friends who is looking for someone just like you. Networking is all about making those connections.

3)      Change up your resume. What does your resume look like? If you’re a high school graduate with little job experience, you might think you need to beef it up with almost-meaningless phrases to make it a page. If you’ve worked for a long time in different jobs, you’re wondering how to trim the fat. The internet has a lot of free resume templates for almost anyone. Use the tools others have created, and see what works for you. ERS also provides resume writing assistance to our customers, so pick up the phone and talk to your career coach.

4)      Volunteer. There are volunteer opportunities everywhere, from hospitals to home-building projects for the needy, to food banks. This will not just feed your soul, but also give you the opportunity to expand your network. Find an opportunity that fits within your skills, or step out of your comfort zone and pick up some new ones on the way!

5)      Keep a routine. Wake up, take a shower, and get dressed like you’re getting ready for work, because really, you are; you’re just working for yourself. Set your working hours (most professionals say between three and eight hours), and keep yourself to those hours. Remember, there’s no paid overtime in this job!

6)      Establish a set of goals. Set a realistic long-term goal (for example, “I will apply to 25 new positions by the end of this month.”), and several short term goals (for example, “I will apply to five new positions by the end of this week.”) Keep these statements simple and grounded in reality, and you’ll be surprised by the results you achieve.

Staying positive and driven can be hard to do, especially with limited feedback on how well you’re doing. You are responsible for your success in this, however, so don’t give up! We’re here for you at ERS, Inc., and we want to hear from you.

What would you like to see from us next?