[humanser] reflections on my interview

Wed Mar 9 21:19:47 UTC 2016

I had a job interview after grad school (15 years or so ago).  They kept asking me, or telling me that there was a lot of reading involved in the job.  They asked how I would handle that.  I explained my assistive technology, JAWS, etc.  The interviewer kept persisting in those questions.  I finally said that I have just completed a three year graduate program where I am sure much more reading was required of me than what would be in this job. So, reading is not my biggest obstacle, but your questioning it is.  I feel certain no one else who interviewed was grilled on how they would read the print materials. This was for a disability focused nonprofit, so on the surface it is surprising that these kinds of questions were asked.  But preconceptions are everywhere.

Now, I would like to think I have matured somewhat since then.

Shannon Cook, MSW
-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lisa Irving via humanser
Sent: Wednesday, March 9, 2016 2:10 PM
To: 'Human Services Division Mailing List' <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Lisa Irving <peacefulwoman89 at cox.net>
Subject: Re: [humanser] reflections on my interview

I'll try to respond to your questions. But first I'll share a little more information.

Here's some background. Two of the three interviewers know me well enough to know that I have needed  reading accommodations when I took a number of classes through their agency. One of the interviewers was one of two persons who selected me to attend last year's PRA Conference. When she made my hotel reservations she requested a "blind room". Earlier during the interview I was asked about my strengths. I emphasized that my two college degrees have enabled me to excel at writing reports. I also emphasized that I have done a lot of presentations and have facilitated groups. All of these items can be found in the online job description.

Justin, I'm pretty sure that perspective employers cannot ask if reasonable accommodations are needed prior to an interview. Also, the seven year old article started out on someone's hard drive or was kept in computer file.

I guess instead of feeling better about the interview I'm a bit depressed.
This is in part because of past issues getting print materials in digital content and now there's the added issue of their somewhat inaccessible website and the awkward questions during the interview. Is all of this typical for most of you who have interviewed?

From,
Lisa

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of justin williams via humanser
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 6:07 AM
To: 'Human Services Division Mailing List' <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Cc: justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [humanser] reflections on my interview

Oh yes, paperwork is required in the jobs, but if you don't ask everyone that question, you can't ask her that either and then penalize her, which we arne't sure that's happened yet, so I'm not jumping to conclusions. I'm not a proponent of showing technology on an interview in most cases; feeling as if that is trying to hard to justify myself to the employer, and for fear of it possibly detracting from me the applicant, but in this case, using
technology to assist with the interview would be okay and necessary.
 Justin

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Reyazuddin, Yasmin via humanser
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 8:52 AM
To: Human Services Division Mailing List <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Reyazuddin, Yasmin <Yasmin.Reyazuddin at montgomerycountymd.gov>
Subject: Re: [humanser] reflections on my interview

Hi Lisa, and Justin,
About 4 years ago I applied for a job here in the county government. All applicants coming for the interview were given 5 questions to review before answering them during the interview. As the panel knew that I am blind and they did not know how to give me the questions in Braille or an alternative format, they changed their policy. They did not give the questions to any applicant.
It is important to show and shine your abilities to the panel of employers.
Paperwork is required in most of the jobs. How one handles is personal preference. I would show them that I am able to use the computer and can manage all the paperwork.
Hope it helps. Keep trying, you never know.

Yasmin Reyazuddin
Aging & Disability Services
Montgomery County Government
Department of Health & Human Services
401 Hungerford Drive (3rd floor)
Rockville MD 20850
240-777-0311 (MC311)
240-777-1556 (personal)
240-777-1495 (fax)
office hours 8:30 am 5:00 pm
Languages English, Hindi, Urdu, Braille

This message may contain protected health information or other information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by return mail and destroy any copies of this material.

Thank you.

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of justin williams via humanser
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 8:31 AM
To: 'Human Services Division Mailing List' <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Cc: justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [humanser] reflections on my interview

Were you told about the article before you went onto the interview?  A human reader is an accommodation, but it does place you at a distinct disadvantage which could have been avoided if they had e-mailed the article to you, especially if you had your laptop there.  Did they ask you if you needed any accommodations for the interview?  Did you tell them you were a person who is blind?  I'm just asking to understand more about the interview.  Second, asking someone about how they will complete paperwork especially if they don't ask this of other job interviewees is illegal.  "I have earned two master's degrees thus far" or something similar would have been my response.
I'm wondering if the article is something they are not supposed to give out.
If so, you could have been offered a pc there to use, but they probably didn't have a version of jaws, so they could have given you a thumb drive to
use with the article on it.  Of course,     you made the e-mail and thumb
drive suggestions.  What was their response to that?  Because, if you had your pc there, and they could have use the electronic suggestion is how you would counter the fact that you were given a human reader. Understand that without your laptop present, the human reader could be considered an
acceptable accommodation, even if it is not fair.   Tantamount to following
the word of the law, and not the spirit of the law, still discrimination in my book, but maybe not technically.  Unless they had a compelling reason however, using a thumb drive, or e-mail should have been permissible; it would be the equivalent of giving you a test on the interview, and making it accessible.  Also, not making sense of the hiring application can be traced back to it being an inaccessible website. Is the company state, county, or private?
If anyone has anything to add, then please do so.  Feel free to correct me; I' still learning like the rest of you folks.

Justin

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lisa Irving via humanser
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 2:42 AM
To: 'Human Services Division Mailing List' <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Lisa Irving <peacefulwoman89 at cox.net>
Subject: [humanser] reflections on my interview

First, I would like to thank all of you for your prayers; positive thoughts and advice. Here's what transpired at the interview. Well, I enjoyed the first half. I'm not sure that I nailed the questions because I kept catching myself digressing. The good news is that I caught myself and it was definitely a learning experience. The second half of the interview has left me questioning myself. In a nutshell, I had to rely on a reader to complete the second half of the interview. I was expected to read an article. I think that relying on a human reader is a distinct disadvantage in many circumstances, including this interview. I had my laptop with me and I suggested one of the interviewers could email the article. I also suggested that the article could be downloaded to a thumb drive. I was also unnerved by the fact the Hiring Manager couldn't make sense of my job application.

Some of you know that I encountered layers of challenges and turned over all stones in order to complete the application. The company's Talent Scout wasn't concerned about my job application, however, the Hiring Manager rightfully was concerned. Yesterday I emailed her my online job application, that is, I emailed what I had highlighted and saved into a Word document.
This morning I offered her a hardcopy of what I had emailed her. She didn't want it. Again, I feel as though I'm at a disadvantage. There were a few awkward moments during the interview when I was trying to figure out how to respond to a couple of questions that I wondered if they were actually permissible. I was told there's a lot of paperwork, I was then asked how I would complete the paperwork. I asked the person who asked the question if
everyone is asked this question. There was a lot of hemming and hawing   .
What do you do in these situations. I thought I integrated my ability to use technology into the interview. Well, I'm going to let all of this sit for a few days and then I'll try to spin this into a very positive experience.

Thanks again for your support.

From,

Lisa

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