Fake Cover Letters Expose Discrimination Against Disabled

[hiraeth]

The researchers constructed two separate résumés: one for a highly qualified candidate with six years of experience, and one for a novice candidate about one year out of college. For each résumé, they created three different cover letters: one for a candidate with no disability, one for a candidate who disclosed a spinal cord injury and one for a candidate who disclosed having Asperger’s syndrome, a disorder that can make social interaction difficult.

Earlier studies had suggested that better qualifications might help disabled candidates overcome employment discrimination, but the researchers found the opposite. Employers were about 34 percent less likely to show interest in an experienced disabled candidate, but only about 15 percent less likely to express interest in a disabled candidate just starting out his or her career. (The latter result was not statistically significant.)

(continued)
Link here

 

[The Penguin]

Yes I can relate to this very well. I had my employer made two cover letters. One disclose my learning disability and the other one does not. Just like the above story, same thing for me. Most employers choose the cover letter that don't talk about the learning disability. Despite employers suppose to be accommodating, most are not.

 

[Crossbreed]

You don't suppose it had anything to do with you being a penguin...?

 

[AGXStarseed]

Doesn't surprise me to be perfectly honest.
When I was writing my CV, I was told not to put down about my Aspergers and only to bring it up during the interview if I felt it was necessary.
The upside is if I got the job and then told them about my Aspergers, they wouldn't be able to sack me as I could sue them for unfair dismissal under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Sadly, Application forms (where you have to put down your Autism/Aspergers) are another matter.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Well I know I won't be disclosing everything until I get employed!

 

[The Penguin]

When I was writing my CV, I was told not to put down about my Aspergers and only to bring it up during the interview if I felt it was necessary.

I did tired that at a interview last week with a recruitment company. At the end of the interview, I gave them my cover letter my employer wrote trying to get employers to see me beyond my LD and all the good work I did for them. After admitting this, the recruiter is interested forwarding my application to their client for an interview. I will provide a update if this does really happens.

 

[Crossbreed]

Well I know I won't be disclosing everything until I get employed!

I can't get the "closet" door to stay shut, if I tried...

 

[Southern Discomfort]

I can't get the "closet" door to stay shut, if I tried...

I can try, I just need to walk on eye contact and appropriate things to say during an interview.

 

[AGXStarseed]

I can try, I just need to walk on eye contact and appropriate things to say during an interview.

Here's an eye contact tip; Try looking at their forehead instead of their eyes. They can't tell the difference and it's usually not so intimidating.

 

[Southern Discomfort]

Here's an eye contact tip; Try looking at their forehead instead of their eyes. They can't tell the difference and it's usually not so intimidating.

Thanks. I try looking at their mouths because I find it helps a little in noisy places. Foreheads might be a better place though, a little closer to the eyes.

 

[Crossbreed]

Sometimes my eye contact is fine (to the point that it calls question to my diagnosis). Other times, it is stereotypical. It seems to depend on the person I am talking to...