Your Guide to Finding a Job With Impaired Hearing | Disabled Person
The above picture is of a man standing in a warehouse looking at a tablet and a wall of inventory.
Your Guide to Finding a Job With Impaired Hearing
You aren't alone with hearing loss! More than 10% of Americans in the workforce have impaired hearing. Some workers experience hearing loss due to their jobs while others have pre-existing hearing loss.
But tens of thousands of Americans with a hearing impairment hold down successful, well-paying jobs. You can find the job of your dreams, as long as you get familiar with good application practices.
What should you do when you are looking for work? How should you discuss your disability? How can you get help for interviews?
Answer these questions and you can move your career forward in no time. Here is your quick guide.
Consider Your Options
People with impaired hearing can perform nearly any type of job in the workplace. Some people with hearing loss like to work in a job that helps people with hearing impairments, and other people like government jobs.
Read lists of the best job positions for people with hearing loss. You can become an audiologist, advising people on how to use hearing aids and assessing their hearing impairments. You can also work as a daycare worker or a social worker, helping children or elderly people.
But feel free to take a job that has nothing to do with hearing loss. Think about your previous experience, including internships and volunteer gigs. Assess what skills you have and how you can fulfill a job with your skills.
Talk to a career professional about finding a job. Get their perspective on what jobs would be best for you and learn more about the job application process.
Use Your Connections
Connections can help you land jobs that are not advertised. They can also give you a leg up on the competition for advertised jobs.
Talk to as many people as possible about jobs you can fill. If a job sounds interesting, ask your connection who at the company you should contact. Talking to a senior official and sending them your resume can help you stand out.
Make sure you help your connections as much as they help you. Give them the heads-up about potential jobs and check their resumes and cover letters for typos and unclear language.
Look for Jobs
You can use job application websites like disABLEDperson, LinkedIn and Indeed to find jobs. These websites let you cast your net in various sectors and learn about opportunities your connections are not aware of.
Try to find companies with a track record of hiring people with impaired hearing. Companies can accommodate an employee with a hearing impairment in several ways, including by hiring sign language interpreters for them. See what accommodations your potential employer has made in the past.
You should also visit websites like Glassdoor where you can read reviews from former employees. Never submit your resume to a company that has a poor track record of helping workers.
To submit your resume to a company, you may need to fill out an application form. Many forms ask you if you have a disability that qualifies for accommodations. You are not required to say you have a disability, even if you do, and the employer cannot use your information against you.
Write a Good Resume and Cover Letter
Your resume should provide clear details about your qualifications and work experience. You don't need to write more than one page, though you need to include your contact information and leave white space.
If you have some experience, you may want to write a resume summary at the top of your resume. This lets you describe how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for the job. But a summary is optional, especially if you have a cover letter that talks about your experience already.
The body of your resume should contain bullet points about each position you have assumed. The points can discuss your skills, accomplishments, and other interesting details that build your case.
Mix your hard skills with your soft skills. Mention if you have certifications, licenses, or special training from a particular position.
You can include a section about your hobbies and personal interests. This may be beneficial if you are applying for a job in the arts and have a background in making art. But you do not have to include it, especially if it leaves you with less space for your accomplishments.
Your cover letter explains why you are applying for the job and how you are qualified. You should write in full sentences and reference the employer's job requirements. You do not have to mention your impaired hearing in your resume or cover letter.
Participate in Interviews
People with impaired hearing can use several tools to help them perform in interviews. You can use a voice carry-over phone or a text phone so you can read the questions being put to you. You can also use a hearing aid during your interview.
Follow a few tips for successful interviews. Prepare for the interview by researching the company and dressing professionally.
Employers are not allowed to ask you questions about your disability. You can volunteer information, but you are not required to. You may want to ask a question about accommodations in the workplace or what the experience of deaf people in the workplace is like.
You may need to go through two or more rounds of interviews before you get hired. You may also need to supply writing samples, lists of references, and other papers. Be prepared for a long process, and ask for help if you need it.
Find a Job With Impaired Hearing
People with impaired hearing can find great jobs. Work your connections and research different job openings. You can apply for anything you want as long as you have qualifications for the position.
You must write a resume and a cover letter for each job you apply for. You don't have to mention your hearing loss in those documents. You can wait until the interview to bring it up, or you don't have to talk about it at all.
Get the resources you need for great jobs. disABLEDperson, Inc. connects people with impaired hearing to positions. Browse our postings today.