Boost Your Career Search – Technology Tips for Disabled Job Seekers

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Guest Post by Patrick Young  

Patrick Young is an educator and activist. He believes people with disabilities must live within a unique set of circumstances – the outside world often either underestimates them or ignores their needs altogether. He created Able USA to offer helpful resources to people with disabilities and to provide advice on navigating various aspects of life as a person with disabilities.

 

These days, technology makes nearly every aspect of our lives easier. When it comes to boosting your career or starting out in a new field, there are several ways that tech can help you get started, and they can be especially helpful if you are living with a disability. From finding the right job that allows you to work from home to finding physical tools(https://www.itbusiness.ca/news/six-ways-technology-can-help-disabled-employees/16544) to make your job easier, there are many apps, sites, and pieces of tech that can help you find what you need.

 

Getting Started 

Before you get started, consider what might help you the most. Do you need to find a job in a new field? Are you looking for something more challenging than your last job? Perhaps you want a career that allows you some freedom when it comes to flexible hours  (https://blog.cheapism.com/flexible-jobs/) or something that will give you the chance to work with other disabled individuals. Carefully consider your needs and how best to ensure that they are met no matter which career path you choose.

Here are a few great tips on how to utilize tech when it comes to your career.

Job Hunting

When searching for a new job, you can make the process much easier by using staffing firms. In addition to traditional staffing agencies in and around your area, you may also benefit from contacting a firm that specializes in helping disabled individuals connect with jobs that suit their skillset. For example, SourceAbled (https://www.sourceabled.com/) prides itself on “an integrated solution for attracting and hiring qualified talent with unique abilities.”

Alternatively, many companies use  these (https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/299320) online job boards to recruit freelancers, whether they’re looking for web development, IT, writing, or legal help. You can narrow down your search according to various factors, including freelance work, which is often perfect for individuals with mobility issues who prefer remote work (https://www.upwork.com/i/how-it-works/freelancer/). Most job boards even have apps that can help you easily keep up with the jobs you’ve applied for, as well as which employer have new openings.

Use an App for Interviews and Research

These days, there are tons of apps you can download that will help you with everything from figuring out the best interview tactics to researching the company you’re interested in. You can even prepare for interviews (https://zety.com/blog/interview-tips) by utilizing an app with a live video session, which will help you figure out your strengths and weaknesses.

Build Up Your Resume

It can be tricky to start out on a new job path or to try and advance your career after years of working in the same field, but one of the best ways to get started is to build up your resume and turn it into a glowing review of your past work. If you need a boost, consider hiring a résumé-writing professional who can help you create one that will garner attention from the best employers.

Make Connection a Priority

Last, but certainly not least, one of the easiest ways to stay connected with clients, customers, or employees is to have the right tools (https://zooxsmart.com/en/tools-we-love-for-remote-management/). These days, there are numerous online services that facilitate virtual meetings, allow you to share files and keep track of tasks. Plus, if you become adept (https://www.skillcrush.com/blog/remote-resume/) in these collaboration tools, you’ll get bonus points from potential employers or clients. Just be sure you’re covered security-wise (https://www.verizon.com/info/digital-security/) on your network and devices to ward off any cybersecurity issues.

Using tech to advance your career can help you find a fantastic new job or fuel your career with new opportunities, but it’s important to find the right tools for your needs. So, put together a plan before you get started so you’ll have a good idea of where to look, and keep your abilities in mind before making any major decisions.

 

Job Search Surprises > 5 ways to be prepared

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Sometimes job seekers are pretty surprised…ok, shocked, to learn that their job is ending. Perhaps there is a merger and suddenly the job is cut. Or a top performer feels their job is secure but a new manager is just not in sync with their style and they are surprised by a pink slip. While we cannot always avoid such surprising news, we can be prepared and therefore be one step ahead…just in case.

How to Prepare:

  • Resume – Keep that resume up to date. Be sure to keep notes on important accomplishments and projects for easy updates.
  • Network – Networking on an ongoing basis one of the most important things you can do. Look for ways to keep in touch with contacts and do things for others. What goes around comes around.
  • Life-long Learning – Seek out learning opportunities both on and off the job. This makes you a valuable player.
  • LinkedIn – Keep your linkedin profile up to date. Review your summary to see if it conveys your brand and your relevant strengths. Your “headline” should market you, not your company.
  • Target Preferred Companies – Be proactive in finding companies that fit with your goals and find ways to network with people who work there. If you only focus on posted jobs you are missing out on the hidden job market.

If you ever do get an unwelcome surprise, be professional about your relationship with your employer. You never know what the future holds. And, in the meantime, you will be prepared to go forward.

 

Best of Success,

Diane

Is “business casual” costing you the job?

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By the Guest Blogger Team at T.M. Lewin

It’s no secret that first impressions are powerful. It really is true, you never get a second chance to make another first impression. Research proves that it takes only a tenth of a second to form an impression of a stranger from only their face. When you begin to factor in a person’s choice of clothing, body language, and appearance, the stakes are even higher. According to several studies, 90% of people form their opinion about you in under less than a minute of an initial introduction. In a job interview, this means that a potential employer could have made their decision of whether or not to hire you before you’ve even begun the formal questioning.

Does the phrase “business casual” fill you with confusion and uncertainty? What really defines business casual from business professional or formal?

Deciding what to wear for an interview or a day at work is becoming increasingly more perplexing. Office environments continue to change and traditional standards of professional dress have surely become more relaxed. What is acceptable and appropriate to wear to an interview or new work environment remains subjective and universally undefined. Beyond the employee handbook (often received after the interview/offer letter) there is no concrete definition for what warrants an appropriate outfit from the next. Of course, in any work environment a dress code is circumstantial to geographical location, workplace culture, corporate policy, title or position and the field or line of work. One thing that remains unquestioned is the importance of a positive and polished appearance on interview day.

 

Even the best candidates who have crafted the perfect resume, completed their research about the company and their potential role forget to also consider the office dress code. There are many ways to gain an insider’s insight prior to the interview. Be observant while dropping off a resume or while in attendance for an office tour. If the job prospect is local, consider casually walking around the lobby or possibly sitting in your car in the parking lot to watch what people are wearing. If your target company is remote, you may be able to gain some insight from company photos of employees, especially in groups versus professional headshots.

 

T.M. Lewin, experts in office-ready work-wear in the UK, has helped to decipher the professional dress code puzzle. They have crafted the savvy guide below as a perfect tool for aspiring jobseekers, with plenty of style references, tips and advice for our modern workforce. Please note that while the guide has been developed for the European workforce, it can easily be adapted to what you learn upon researching the interviewing company.

 

 

T.M. Lewin is a British heritage brand established in 1898 on Jermyn Street in London. Experts of smart style and dressing our modern working world. is a British heritage brand established in 1898 on Jermyn Street in London. Experts of smart style and dressing our modern working world. 

 

Job Search: 5 Ways to Get Inspired in the New Year

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Now that the confetti of the New Year has settled, how is your job search going? Are you stuck? Do you feel a lack of enthusiasm? Can you use some inspiration?

During the quieter end of December, I had some time to do a few things that had been tabled for way too long – things like webinars, outings with friends, and quiet time to read. After a few days of this gift of time to journey through these happenings, I honestly felt reinvigorated. Learning some new things, I also felt inspired with new ideas and approaches to business.

So, here are some ideas that I hope will inspire you, too. The key is taking time out to do something of your own choosing, which I think is truly energizing. And, I believe that it is important to plan time in your calendar to periodically do this.

Here are 5 ideas that may inspire you in the New Year:

  1. Industry Relevant – Listen to some webinars in your field. Search through your industry professional associations or use Google to help find 1 to 2-hour sessions that are practical and offer industry-relevant information or skills that are cutting edge.
  2. Social Media – Have you been hearing about twitter and Instagram but have no clue? Your smartphone has tons of apps that everyone is using and you don’t know which ones you should even have? Find classes or watch some YouTube videos on “how to.”
  3. Self Improvement – Whether it’s a consultation at your favorite salon, a new fitness program, or healthier approaches to eating, now is a great time to explore a change. Allow yourself to have fun in the process and make it manageable change so that you can stick with it.
  4. Career Experts – Do you find yourself overwhelmed in the search process? Perhaps it’s time to use an expert. If your old approach was not working, then you need to do something different. Investing money for an expert can pay off exponentially when you land a position sooner because you used help.
  5. Fun – Is there a hobby you have lost touch with? Sewing, carpentry, gardening, reading, tennis, running, swimming, mah jong….whatever it is for you. Making time for regular fun in your life is important for your mood and the attitude you project to others.

I hope these ideas will help you feel ready to pick up your job search with new energy, confidence, and a fresh outlook for success!

Can you be found by the “Magic” Sourcers?

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If you are a job seeker, do you know about “Magic” Sourcers? Well, really known as “Sourcers,” they are the people who are constantly mining candidates who might fit a company need at some point in the future. Recruiters often do sourcing as part of their job, but “Sourcers” focus exclusively on finding potential candidates. If they can find you, then lots of job search “magic” can occur!

Sourcers can be internal HR people or external recruiters. Their task is to build a database of ideal candidates to tap into when the company is ready to fill a job. This saves a lot of time trying to find the right candidate when the company has an urgent need. By doing your homework, you can position yourself in places to be found and “whal-lah!” you will exponentially shorten your job search…MAGIC!

So where do Sourcers look for candidates? They SLEUTH for information about a specific field of interest. They will research everything from what the position entails, what skill sets are required, what publications those professionals read, what associations do they belong to, what conferences do they attend, and more.

Here are some places they look:

 

>>> Social Media – your posts, profile, comments, demos, slides, and more!

– LinkedIn – including Groups

– Facebook – including deep searches for unique user groups

– Quora – a Q & A website

– YouTube – video presentations

– SlideShare – slide presentations

– About.me – a more personal website

– Twitter – what content are you sharing

 

>>> Blogs – they are evaluating topic and content

>>> Industry Publications – have you written articles? Are you esteemed in your industry?

>>> Conference Speaker – are you sought after as a speaker? Are you an expert in a specific niche?

So how can you increase the odds that they will find you? Most important, know where Sourcers are sleuthing for you. Then build a strong digital presence with profiles that provide highlights (not tons of detail) of who you are and what you can do. “Be seen” by creating intelligent content on blogs, comments, and posts. Elevate your digital footprint and you WILL be found!