[humanser] INTERVIEWING

[Darla Rogers]

	Excellent, J.D.; even old dogs, like me, can learn new interview skills; too bad so many sighted folks don't even know, and I won't even get into the 4-page résumé I must shorten in order to be considered for positions, as I don't have enough education and experience and research for a Vita.
Darla


-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of JD Townsend
Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 9:29 PM
To: 'Human Services Mailing List'
Subject: [humanser] INTERVIEWING



how would you handle it if you're trying to talk about your skills as a social worker and the employer keeps referring back to the blindness?
Alyssa,

I might try to be casual, but ask:


“You seem fascinated by blindness.  I can assure you that I can and will be timely with the paperwork, excellent with my clients and an involved team member, my disability has nothing to do with that, but I’d be happy

to tell you how I shop, dress and cross-country ski if that’ll get me the job?


“If your blindness questions  center around wondering if I can keep up, if 
you wonder how I’ll accomplish my daily tasks, trust me, I’ll show you my 
productivity, my writing talent, and my clinical successes.”

“It’s funny, but a blind psychotherapist I know asks how the light dependent 
do all of that with ink on paper.  He’s the most productive worker at his 
job and has a great reputation as a clinician.”


“You have lots of questions for me, now let me ask you about the agency and 
how you see me in this position.”

“I have found that many clients feel more comfortable with a therapist who 
is blind and they address their core issues more readily, feeling less 
judged.”

“I have found that many of the clients you have described feel disabled by 
their mental illnesses and feel more comfortable discussing their issues 
with a therapist who is also disabled.”

“You may be concerned that you would not be able to do this job if you lost 
your sight.  Let me assure you, should that happen, with good rehabilitation 
and a positive attitude you would.  I have had that rehabilitation and I 
have that attitude now.”


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