7/16/12 - Scott Provides Résumé Insight for People with Disabilities

 

July 2012 marks the 22nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities in public accommodations, commercial facilities, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications.   The statistics below come from the U.S. Census publication entitled “Americans with Disabilities: 2010”   41% - Percentage of people 21 to 64 with a disability who were employed compared to an employment rate of more than 79% for those without a disability.   $1,961- Median monthly earnings for people 21 to 64 with a disability, compared with $2,724 for those with no disability.   These figures seem to indicate that people with disabilities are not only three times as likely to be unemployed, they’re also likely to be paid 30% less when they get a job! Eek!   With these staggering statistics in mind, there’s a few important things to think about when it comes to writing your résumé:   1. Never discuss, hint at or state your disability status on a résumé. Of course it’s not just contrary to the ADA for an employer to discriminate on the basis of a disability, it’s just plain wrong. Even still, that might not stop an unscrupulous employer from doing something illegal or immoral. Don’t leave any opportunity open for this to happen. Leave any reference to disabilities off of your résumé.   2. If you have a disability, focus your résumé on the skills which you CAN perform and not those which you cannot perform. Be sure to look at the job posting to understand what the employer needs in a successful candidate. If you’re qualified and capable of performing the functions of a role, make sure your qualifications are clear on your résumé.   3. Focus your résumé on what makes your experience unique. Whether you have a disability or not, it’s important to call attention to the skills and qualifications that make you a great candidate for a role. Remember a résumé is not a job description. Do not simply describe what you’ve done in previous roles. Indicate what you’ve done that makes you the strongest candidate. Make sure your résumé is full of !@#$% - read Signs of a Great Résumé.