The past several months have hinted at a rebound in our economy with lower job loss numbers. As of March we are actually seeing net job creation in non-farm payrolls, a key government economic indicator. Additionally, retail inventories are growing and many sectors are indicating that they expect to begin adding jobs within the first two quarters of 2010. Maybe it's time we actually began to wake up from our stupor. I say the heck with Nostradamus, 2012, End of Days, and the rest of the glass is half full crowd. If I'm going out, I'm going out working!
Over the next several posts I'm going to explore sectors and segments of the economy, both public and private, where candidates with disabilities are in demand. Before you ready your digits to fire back at my naiveté in presuming that our skills are in demand anywhere, let alone in multiple sectors and industries, hold your breath at least long enough to read the next paragraph.
My post today will focus on the federal government's efforts to closely align with the disability community to encourage us to explore working within the federal government or their many agencies. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!
Government Agencies and Sites for You
- CDPP (Committee on Disability Power and Pride)--I have personally worked with the CDPP in support of their near-term objective to strengthen the ranks of qualified candidates submitted for key positions with the administration and federal agencies through the Office of Personnel Management(OPM). Through nAblement and SPR Companies (my employers) we created their Sharepoint collaboration site for this effort.
- USA Jobs, www.usajobs.gov-- is a clearinghouse for federal agencies to post positions and engage candidates with disabilities for those positions. This group also puts on events to help those in a jobs search (pwd, veterans, etc.) Watch their site for more info on future events.
- Federal Jobs Network, www.federaljobs.net.--Although it's not a government supported site, it was launched by a career federal employee and is populated with support and jobs within the federal agencies. See the "handicapped employment options" link (not my language choice!) for specific directions to candidates with disabilities. It takes you to a page that clearly defines some of the options that hiring managers within the federal structure have access to for hiring candidates with disabilities into their agencies, and is a valuable primer as you begin to explore this prospective career path.
VA's , VR's - It's not always What you know, but Who you know
If you are a veteran or civilian with a disability, your veteran's administration counselor or vocational rehabilitation counselor (that's a hint - you should explore vocational rehabilitation as an extension of your job search network!) can craft and sign a Schedule A Letter for soliciting employment opportunities in government agencies. Doing so may avail you to be hired even for positions that have not been posted for general response.
Schedule A candidates come from the pool of candidates who meet the test of having a severe cognitive, physical or emotional disability, a history of such disability or being perceived as having such a disability. Despite my silly header, it's not only who you know when it comes to getting hired, but having representation from a strong VA counselor or rehabilitation services counselor can be a great advantage to help you navigate the employment process.
Put Your Government to Work for You!
I hope this brief primer on available resources and supports helps you to get in front of hiring managers at federal agencies or departments. If the employment rate among working-age persons with disabilities in our federal government is to move noticeably, and in the right direction, we're going to need to commit ourselves to fully exploring the resources available to us for finding, applying to, and landing those jobs. Good hunting!
