May 23, 2001

Marketing Yourself as a Person with a Disability

Preparing to teach the rehabilitation counselors how to best market their consumers to the government, I called OPM to get their recommended approach on how a rehab counselor or an actual applicant should best go about finding the non-published jobs for people with disabilities.

Here's what two OPM policy analysts said: "The rehabilitation counselors should go direct to the agency and market yourself and your consumers!" Wow, how direct! No announcement, paperwork, policies or procedures. Just call and make an appointment? It's true, that what two OPM experts said.

And just to make sure it's REALLY true, I tested their recommendation. I made 7 "cold-call" phone calls myself to these agency representatives. I got through to four Selecting Placement Officers. They were very helpful and receptive to meeting me and discussing jobs for people with disabilities! This process is just like private industry placement. Personnel specialists and executive recruiters call HR recruiters and present their client's qualifications by phone, email or in order to develop an ongoing relationship, in person. It takes relationship development, personal contact and follow-up and perseverance.

I spoke to a Selective Placement Official at the Government Printing Office who was very encouraging regarding their plans to hire people with disabilities. She said, "We have many jobs that would be excellent for people with disabilities."

The reason the personal contact is so important is that many jobs available for people with disabilities are not advertised on www.usajobs.opm.gov. You will not know about these jobs without contact with the agency's recruitment specialist.

These recruitment specialists have various titles: Many of them are now called Selective Placement Officers; others could EEO Officers, Human Resource staff or managers. With the new initiative and genuine interest in hiring people with disabilities the names of people (unless they've changed assignments) and phone numbers are available. (List information is below)

SIX STEPS FOR MARKETING YOURSELF TO FEDERAL HIRING DECISION-MAKERS (FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES)

1. Call or email the Selective Placement Officer to introduce yourself. If they're not in, leave a voicemail that is clear, friendly and specific. "Hello, I'm Susan White. I got your name and number from the list of Selective Placement Officers. I am inquiring about jobs that you may have for people with disabilities. I'd like to set an appointment to discuss my skills and qualifications if possible. Can you call me back at 410 744 4324? Thank you for your time. I look forward to your call."
2. Set an appointment to meet to discuss your skills that can support the mission of the agency.
3. Maintain a relationship by faxing or emailing resumes for consideration of jobs that may not be announced.
4. Be prepared with an excellent resume that presents their skills. Be prepared to talk about the disability and how reasonable accommodations will provide a good place to work.
5. Be friendly and interested in getting information about jobs for people with disabilities. Ask questions to understand how they would like to work with you.
6. Remember that you are helping the federal agency MEET THEIR MANDATED HIRING OBJECTIVES. They should welcome your call and be pleased that you are interested in employment with the government.

WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES - CD-ROM DATABASE OF 1,200 STUDENTS

The Defense Department and Department of Labor have partnered to create a highly-successful database of students with disabilities who are available for interview for Federal jobs. The database was developed through on-site college interviews and referrals from Disability Student Services on college campuses. There are 1,200 current student resumes in the database of student candidates. If your federal or private industry human resources office or hiring official would like a copy of the CD please call or write Paul Meyer or Betsy Kravitz at kravitz-betsy@pcepd.gov (202) 376 6300.

SUCCESSFUL HIRE WITH REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

A Career Corner Reader wrote this email:

We have recently hired a person with a hearing disability. She came out of the interview as the top candidate. It did require a few adjustments to our facility.

• During the interview we had an interpreter available. The interviewing agency is required to pay for this service if there is not someone on staff that is able to perform this service.

• Installation of blinking lights in the event the fire alarm goes off.

• Provide a pager. This is part of a back up for emergency situations. For the remainder of this fiscal year, the cost will be picked up at the local office level. With the next fiscal year the cost will be paid for at the headquarter level.

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