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When Should I Disclose a Disability?
If you have a service- or non-service-related disability, you may be wondering when it is best to disclose this disability to a potential employer. It is recommended that you never disclose a disability in a resume or cover letter. The only exception is if the position is speci cally geared towards someone with a disability. If you have an employment gap (typically of more than two years) due to a disability, try to ll that gap with other activities such as volunteer work or education.
When it comes to the interview, you might consider disclosing your disability to an employer prior to the interview only if the disability is visible, such as noticeable impairments to speech, hearing, sight, or mobility, to avoid any surprise or shock. Otherwise, use your judgment as to the need to discuss any disabilities in the interview. Once you discuss your disability, you may want to mention the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) opportunities available to the employer when hiring a veteran with a disability (for more information on WOTC, see the Employment and Education Services section of this publi- cation).
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a quali ed applicant or employee with a disability. The ADA applies to private employers with 15 or more employ- ees and to state and local government employers. The
US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces the employment provisions of the ADA. In general, an applicant with a disability is responsible for let- ting the employer know that an accommodation is needed. You do not have to request an accommodation in writing, but it is strongly recommended in order to keep records.
One of the best resources for understanding your rights under the ADA and to nd information on applying for jobs with a disability is the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). JAN is a service of DOL Of ce of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) and provides expert and con dential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. You can nd detailed information on the ADA, EEOC, requesting accommodations, and much more at http://www.askjan.org.
THE JOB SEARCH continued
Don’t forget that the interview is an excellent opportunity to elaborate on success stories, additional skills and abilities gained through collateral appointments, the progression of previous positions to include additional responsibilities, and, maybe most important of all, leadership skills developed through your active duty service
Step 7: Following Up with Employers
Not following up with an employer a er an interview is a mistake many people make It is imperative that you follow up with an employer quickly a er an interview, regardless of how you feel the interview went. You should send the employer a follow-up letter and make sure to include any ideas or remarks that you may have forgotten to discuss, provide information the employer requested during the interview, brie y remind the employer of the high points of the interview, thank the employer for his/her time and consideration, and invite him/her to contact you with additional questions or to schedule another meeting e NM Workforce Connection website provides a Letter Builder tool that helps you construct a good follow-up letter Sample follow-up letters and a list of action words are available
Step 8: Negotiating a Job Offer
Success! You have a job o er Your work, however, is not done You should carefully consider the o er that is made and really evaluate whether the position meets your own criteria of what you’re looking to get out of the job ink about your response before you receive the o er And even if you feel con dent that the position is right for you, remember that both you and the employer have needs and that there is almost always room for negotiation Both you and the employer should be willing to search together for mutual agreement on the terms
and conditions of your working relationship
e best possible situation is that the employer o ers terms,
conditions, and salary that you are happy with If you some- what disagree with the o er, don’t just accept it because you want to “take what you can get ” Again, negotiating is o en expected by the employer ey want to reach an agreement where both parties are happy and both see they are making a positive investment—the employer is investing in you and you are investing in the employer While it may feel like negotiat- ing is risky, it is an important process for which to prepare
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