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April 01, 2008
Discover the Attributes Which Make You Exceptional
There is a 2000-year-old maxim that says, "A good reputation is more valuable than money."
In today’s highly competitive world, in which personal branding is becoming a common career-building strategy, that maxim is surprisingly still on target.
It’s especially true for individuals with disabilities -- as two eSight members recently pointed out on the eSight Networking Forum.
Ameenah Lippold wrote:
"I have worked for the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) since 2005 as an IT Specialist, and my work is not disability related in any way, shape or form. I work in an acquisition program, which is replacing legacy command and control systems. As such, we are changing how the DoD does software development and associated processes.
"My job requires me to coordinate interaction among organizational entities and negotiate agreements between said organizations with respect to IT. I am the project lead for standing up a virtual help desk for the soldier/warfighter. As such, this has taken me into the field of Knowledge Management.
"On top of all of that, I am part of a three-year program that trains new government employees for leadership and management positions.
"I would say that I have taken the general attributes and the skills which I have learned associated with being totally blind and apply them to my job: problem solving, advocacy and negotiating.
"Before coming to DISA, I worked at the NFB Jernigan Institute in Baltimore, and that was my first full-time job. While there, I began developing my skills, but I always knew that I wouldn't be working there forever.
"Granted, I can appreciate the fact that I didn't have to deal with colleagues questioning my abilities or thinking that I was amazing because I was blind. Even so, I made a conscious decision to get out of blindness related jobs. Up until DISA, I had always worked in the field of blindness (specifically, access technology).
"I think that it would be imprudent of one to consider their disability as being irrelevant when searching for a job. During my interview for DISA, one of the first things I did was talk about my blindness and how I would perform job tasks at DISA such as e-mail, PowerPoint, and word processing.
"I talked about how I would travel (my current job requires travel to conferences and field sites around the world), and explained that I am capable of independent travel. Over the course of three years, I have had two different supervisors, and each boss has given me positive performance appraisals.
"My supervisor gives me assignments which fellow teammates are unable to complete. I have been recognized for the quality of my work via cash awards.
"In short, it is possible for a disabled person to compete in nondisability-related fields. However, it requires a lot of patience, motivation, and confidence on the part of the individual. Everyday, people will question your ability -- that comes with the territory -- but one must learn to handle these situations with diplomacy."
Barney Mayse, a second eSight member, wrote:
"Tell me what you think I cannot do and watch how I do it. I am not here to inspire but rather to educate myself on how far I can go. I am here to make a contribution with my unique gifts in the way that I am able.
"I am able to do many things but finding the environment which will allow me to make that contribution is a process. If the world understood, none of this would be necessary. So we have an opportunity to educate the world and tell the stories of success, accomplishment and marvels.
"People with disabilities need to stand up and speak out. Life is a challenge for each person -- whether they have a disability or not. Are you competent, confident and skilled in your area of employment? If so, get in the game and do what you do."
Those are two interesting comments. Notice how their individual attributes pop out at you.
Through your actions, you, too, can follow in the footsteps of Ameenah and Barney and develop a reputation for being forthright, attentive, patient, motivated, confident, diplomatic, persistent, flexible and adaptable as well as a problem solver, an effective advocate, an adroit negotiator and a show-and-tell educator.
These are all attributes and skills which you’ve probably worked for years to develop but which also grew from your personal experiences of learning to live well with a disability.
Take this opportunity to tell your brief story. In doing so, you may discover attributes about yourself that you didn’t know you had -- attributes which make you an exceptional job candidate and which you can highlight as you search for the job that’s right for you.
You’ll also be gaining a valuable online presence you can always link to -- and tell prospective employers what you’re all about.
Please answer this question:
What qualities have you developed through living with a disability that a prospective employer might find helpful?
Add your comments to this posting
Posted by Jim at April 1, 2008 12:20 PM
Comments
Due to my own disability I can not handle working full time. I have a lot of education (BA Sociology, AS Computer Science, and Cert. Assitive Technology) and experience. Because of Social Security I can only make $900.00 per month. Therefore I am a very inexpensive employee.
For the last four years I worked as an Assistive Technology Specialist, providing technology training to individuals with disabilities. I have worked with individuals that had limited or no use of their hands and/ or legs as will as those with limited vision and voice impairments. My job was to teach them how to use computers and other technical services to make their lives more enjoyable.
I did this for less than half of what other get for this type of work. However, I enjoyed the work and it gave me a chance to gain more experience.
Because of funding however, I had to leave my job last week. Hopefully I'll find something closely related, real soon.
Posted by: Jasper at April 2, 2008 03:16 AM
I've been told that I have a unique ability to be able to see " the big picture" whereas others may only see something in reference to their particular area of expertise. This was a quality my mum instilled in me from childhood so that I could explain about my disability (visually impaired /legally blind) initially to people who had questions. Fifty some years ago it wasn't always the norm to have a disabled child in a regular classroom.
Perhaps its my innate curiosity ( good trait in a journalist) that I examine most issues from all sides and turn it inside out before coming to a conclusion. I read a variety of magazines , newspapers, journals, books, tv news and social issue programs over the full spectrum to keep me balanced in my approach. This ability also helped when I taught special ed as I'd "turn over every stone" I could find to help my students.
Enthusiasm and passion for what I do is part of what I bring to any job, it's not ho hum with me keeping my head down running the maze. When you love what you do ,it's not like working at all and you actually get paid for doing it.
Because I'm a people person at heart, whether dealing with consumers with disabilities or schoolkids or museum patrons or customers or my fellow workers I can empathize with what people are going through or what they need and I try to give it to them. I can be diplomatic when I need to be but I also can also take it to the street if the occasion warrents it .
Am also forthright, as Nancy , Jim and Marten know and as some of the readers of my newspaper columns have found out. I don't cave in easily, am not wishy washy and I will stand up against bullies and arrogance when I have to-from a major Canadian university to internet bullies to workplace or schoolyard bullies, been there , done that and can still do it , if I need to.
Employers also have told me I'm funny and a good person to have around if they're in the doldrums.
Oftentimes these may not be the qualities one might find on a resume or portfolio but often are qualities that employers and colleagues need in fellow employee to develop their successes.
Oh and I'm not too bashful to ask for help when I need it , it isn't often but I'm secure enough to know my strengths and my weaknesses.
My word is my bond and integrity is extremely important to me. Liz
Posted by: Liz S at April 2, 2008 09:43 AM
I am only working outside home parttime, but I have many good qualities and others will tell you that too. First off, I consider myself to be a good writer as evidenced by my many posts throughout these forums and elsewhere on the Internet. I am also a "people person." Others tell me that when they call our office and I answer, or when I make calls for the staff, I'm always very pleasant over the phone and my diction is good. I'm polite and friendly. That reminds me of something I'd like to share. Last week one day as I was calling people to remind them about an activity that was to take place the next day, I called one of our participants and was rather surprised at her rather negative attitude over the phone. I called and she answered, and I said my part about the activity. She then rather rudely said to me, "Jake, you know I don't go to activities anymore." She then slammed the phone down. I was surprised at this because it was the first time she had been rude to me. But I figure she was having a bad day or something. In fact that's what my coworkers thought too when I told them. I simply moved on and didn't bother to speculate any further. I am also very punctual and reliable, and I work well with people. I'm not arrogant and self-serving, which I think makes others feel at ease around me. I also tend to stick with a given task until it is done. Those are just some positive attributes about me. I am indeed very committed to the paying job I have now.
Posted by: Jake at April 8, 2008 11:54 PM