I’ve had so many crushes on companies. But finding the right fit can be hard.
It reminds me of speed dating. You sit or Zoom in front of that recruiter and exchange questions—What is your background? Can you tell me about yourself? Why do you want to work for our company? Then you advance to the next recruiter, and repeat the same process.
At the end, you determine who you want to “date,” or move onto the next round of the interview. Do they understand what you’re looking for? Should you give them your number?
But when you have a hidden disability there’s an added challenge: figuring out if the prospective workplace will truly be welcoming.
Companies say they want to be accommodating. Any time you read a job description, you come to that part where they say they’re open to hiring candidates with disabilities. But in my experience, as someone with a hidden disability, that’s not always the case. I’ve applied to enough jobs to know that very often companies aren’t supportive.
There’s the risk of joining a company that is intolerant or unwilling to make accommodations. Before interviewing, I talk to current or former employees. I read their blog to see if they say anything overt about employees with disabilities, or mention any accessibility training. Often I find that it’s all hot air.
If I do decide to apply, then I have to figure out when in the process to disclose—whether that’s to a recruiter or a hiring manager. How much should I tell them about my disability?