should you mention a disability on a cv?

K

kim

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Hi

doing up a cv for my sister who has a disability and is recieving disability benefit, she has no use of her left arm due to a stroke she had when she was 6 yrs old, she is now 21, at what point do you mention a disability to a potential employer? she worked as a special needs assistant but there is not much available in that area now and wants try something different.
Thanks
 
Yes, as long as it doesn't impede her ability to do her job she has nothing to worry about.

I used to work with a girl who suffered from an illness which meant she took quite a number of sick days each month she worked with the company for two years before our boss decided to let her go with no notice as he had had enough, she took him to court but ended up losing the case and paying all the fees because she had not disclosed the illness to the company at any point during her employment.
 
Thanks

I'd hate to think that an employer might bypass her because of it though.
 
Well if an employer does there's really nothing that can be done about it. Would she rather keep it a secret, get the job and down the line find herself in legal trouble if the disability was to start effecting her job?
 
I would not mention a disability on a cv. While I see the point of not keeping it a secret during the employment I would consider it something to mention down the recruitment line perhaps. I have never seen someone write eg I'm in a wheelchair on a cv. Let your sister send a cv without discriminating herself, hopefully get an interview and show her potential employer she is more than a disability.
 
I don't see the need to mention it at the CV stage - as long as she does not require the arm to do a physical job. She can mention it at the interview stage. There is normally a section when signing the contract were you tick if you are disabled.

As someone who hires staff I would not have an issue with this.
 
If it won't impact on her job I would see absolutely no reason to mention it. Even if it would impact on the job, I wouldn't mention it in the CV but perhaps during the interview stage and explaining as best she can how she proposes to do the job and get the same or better results as anyone else. I'm not an expert in this area that's just what I would think. Perhaps she should ask more professional advice about what the correct approach is.
 
Yeah I would agree not to put it in. A CV is a summary of your achievements and qualifications, which will be even more impressive when the employer is eventually told of the disability. Unfortunately mentioning it in the CV only gives the employer an easy chance to throw it in the bin without having to go through the "hassle" of discussing it with the prospective employee.
 
Complainer said:
She has lots to worry about, with many, many employers. Say nowt, until you have to.
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Really?

The application form won't ask, or at least shouldn't ask any questions regarding capabilities. It's an issue that would be assessed at any pre employment medical. It's not a case of hiding anything, but they won't be asking at that stage because evaluation of suitability is on experience and qualification. So she is within her rights not to say anything at that point. After that the capability would be addressed within a medical and she can discuss it then. If, within reasonable accomodation, it won't cause an issue, then it's fine.
 
No need at all to dislcose it at this stage. Focus on preparing the most effective CV for your sister and get her to the interview stage. Depending on the job then she may have to inform them then, but I would do this at the end of the interview if necessary.

Best of luck, hope she finds something!
 
UFC said:
This is what cover letters are for.
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No, she should absolutely not mention her disability in a cover letter.

If she needs any support at interview stage (such as a sign language interpreter, or a wheelchair accessible building), then she should ask for these when she is called for interview.
 
you don't need to mention it in the cover letter either. Hopefully she'll get to the interview stage and mention it then if needed. Some employers might even see it in the light that this something she has managed to overcome and make her a stronger person because of the disability and therefore a more valuable employee. Don't give the potential employer any reason to even think about not interviewing your sister.

say for instance she is applying for job in a call centre - has great interpersonal skills, maybe even a foreign language and can type reasonably fast with one hand (and believe me it can be done), then why would you mention a disability which might have absolutely no bearing on the position being applied for.
 
I have an illness which anyone you work closely with would need to know about - it is not a disability as such. I would never disclose this in a CV but have always told prospective employers at interview stage and it has never held me back as far as I know.
 
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