[nfbmi-talk] Job Finding

Fred Wurtzel f.wurtzel at att.net
Fri Nov 21 03:15:27 UTC 2014


Hello,

 

This post may be better as a blog, however, I think finding jobs is possibly
the most important issue facing blind people.  Most of the other issues we
discuss are subtexts of this topic.  

 

I have been thinking about job hunting.  A couple weeks ago, another lister,
whom I have deep respect for,  commented that the suggestion of using
Richard N. Bolles ideas for job hunting is possibly obsolete.  Try as I
might, I cannot find a major flaw in Bolles' ideas, though no system is
perfect for every person or situation.  

 

A point that was made suggesting that Bolles approach is made less effective
by technology, is that automated screening systems have built-in biases
toward minorities.  The example given was the driver's license requirement
on the web-based application.  Clearly, lying is not an option and answering
truthfully is also doomed for a blind person.  So, what to do? I am
encouraged to hear that some members are reaching out to Lieutenant Governor
Cally for a meeting about employment.  Presumably, the topic of biased
applications will be a major topic in informing him of barriers to
employment for blind persons.    I would suggest that this tactic is
consistent with Bolles, since he builds his strategy on relationships.
After all, the only way, ultimately, that most people get jobs is through
relationships.  Sometimes, these relationships are  very short, being
created in the brief window of an interview.  More often, these
relationships are a longer term process.

 

Skills of blindness are very important.  The ability to travel affords us to
venture into the community and meet others.  The possession of literacy
affords us the ability of communicating our ideas, skills and personalities
to others in the community. Finally, and, arguably, the most important skill
of blindness is self-confidence and belief that blind people are capable and
entitled to an equal opportunity to compete for jobs.

 

The NFB gives us the opportunity to work collectively to help one another to
acquire these skills.  Part of our function is to be a training experience
for each other.  We share information, tools and techniques.  We observe our
colleagues succeeding in their goals.  This function of our organization is
possibly its greatest strength and benefit.  We certainly do influence
various institutions to change, but, mostly, we influence each other to
change and have a vision that blind people can achieve success in any field
we choose.  As the poet said, "no one is promised a rose garden."  There
will be struggle and opposition borne of ignorance and sometimes malice.
There is social inertia; it takes effort to change direction or speed or
slow trends.  That is why we come together: to create a force which is
greater than the inertia we face.

 

So, as for Bolles, I am still convinced that his system of job finding is as
relevant as ever.  I also know that no job-finding system can succeed if we,
the job-seekers do not believe in ourselves as fully capable and entitled to
the same opportunities as our sighted peers and colleagues.

 

 

Warmest Regards,

 

Fred




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