« May 2009 | Main | July 2009 »
June 30, 2009
New Ways to Land a Job
July and August are special months for eSight NetWork News (eNN) subscribers.
This week, we’re introducing a special interactive project for sharing ideas this summer about how you, as a job seeker with a visual impairment, can effectively use social media for networking so you can gain meaningful employment.
During the next two months, eSight will facilitate a LinkedIn group, "Using Social Media Networking as a Job Search Tool."
The purpose: to encourage HR professionals and hiring managers in the U.S. to share ideas about how job seekers with visual impairments can effectively use social media for their job searches so employers have access to the best available talent, regardless of disability.
Also, through Twitter, career counselors who coach visually impaired job seekers throughout the U.S. will share ideas about how these tips from employers can best be applied in the real world.
And, you, as an eNN reader, will be able to chime into this conversation, too. How?
All you have to do is follow the links below and add your thoughts to this week’s discussion on the eSight Network Forum.
By doing so, you’ll be able to hear what hiring managers are saying about how to find a job in today’s market using social media – and quickly add your own comments about what you think works and does not work in searching for a job online.
Here’s how you’ll benefit by joining your fellow eSight members in following this discussion:
- You’ll gain insight from employers throughout the U.S. about how social media is changing the process of landing a job.
- You’ll help develop a dialogue among your fellow eSight members about how to most effectively use social media in finding a job.
- You’ll be able to share your own ideas about what is most practical with your fellow eSight members.
One thing I can promise you. Stick with us over the next eight weeks, and you’ll look at job hunting in a whole new light.
eSight will highlight the key thoughts which come out of this Twitter conversation among eSight members in each week’s issue of eNN.
And, we’ll use the eSight Networking Forum to tie down some of the most important issues we may have with social media as a job hunting tool from a visual impairment standpoint.
We’ll also translate the insight generated by you, your fellow eSight members, career counselors and employers into a series of free articles, white papers and teleseminars about "Essential Job Search Tactics," which will become available on eSight over the next few months.
So, before you join Twitter or publish your profile on LinkedIn, please take this first step. Think about what you want an employer to know about you.
For background, read "Essential Career Marketing Tactic: Self-presentation"
Then give us your thoughts about this question:
How do you transform your old elevator pitch into
profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter etc. so
recruiters get an accurate picture of what you have
to offer a prospective employer?
Posted by Liz Seger at 05:09 PM | Comments (8)
June 23, 2009
Getting Past the Federal Government Gatekeepers
So far, this month, we've focused on the real-life situations of two individuals who have visual impairments.
First, we met Lee, who began his 36-year career with the Internal Revenue Service in July, 1973, and is now Chief Accessibility Coordinator for the Wage and Investment Division of IRS.
For more about Lee you can read his career narrative.
Second, we learned about George, who is now going totally blind after working as a math tutor and is not sure how to continue his career.
Thanks to Jeremiah, Abraham, Eileen, Jim, Jeffrey, Barney, Kathy and Jeff for all the very helpful tips you gave George.
Check and join the discussion.
Today, I'd like to introduce you to another eSight member, Michelle Clark, who writes:
"All around me there are e-mails, job fairs, and people/counselors telling me the Federal Government is hiring. I believe that is wonderful, but I'm having difficulty applying.
"I find it difficult to apply even when I do hear of jobs because (I'm having trouble) navigating www.usajobs.gov..
"How do I break through the gatekeepers in applying for Federal Government jobs I feel I can do?"
Michelle brings up an important issue. Some Federal agencies (such as Social Security Administration) are being flooded with job applicants now that they have announced their hiring targets.
When applying for a federal Government job, it may be much easier to work with your state's commission for visually impaired people or your area's Selective Placement Coordinator (SPC).
You'll then know whether it's possible to apply for the job under "Schedule A" hiring authority, bypassing the normal selection process.
For a directory of regional SPC contacts, go to
http://www.cessi.net/ttw/SSAHires/spc.html
For information about how to apply for a federal job under "Schedule A," go to http://www.cessi.net/ttw/SSAHires/docs/Schedule_A_Fast_Facts.pdf
Also keep in mind that Olegario (Ollie). Cantos VII, Esq., who is a member of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities, notified eSight member James J. Elekes, M.Ed, MPA, CPM, Trans-Access Associates, that the U.S. Department of Justice has recently issued a department-wide call to hire and promote persons with disabilities.
For those who wish to seek employment in the U.S. Department of Justice, that's important news.
The department's goal is to have two percent of its workforce of more than 100,000 consist of people with disabilities.
Ollie recommends that job-seekers remind hiring authorities of the call to action issued by the Attorney General, who is following President Obama's commitment to advance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
"I would like nothing more than for all individuals with disabilities, who have an interest in joining our ranks, to make application to available positions for which they qualify," writes Ollie, who is himself blind.
Attorney General Holder announced that The Justice Management Division's (JMD) Human Resources and Equal Employment Opportunity Staffs are available to provide information about special hiring authorities and accommodations for people with disabilities.
He writes:
"These offices also will report quarterly to me on the Department's progress. If you have any questions you may contact Rod Markham, Director, Human Resources Staff, JMD or Vontell D. Frost-Tucker, Director, Equal Employment Opportunity Staff, JMD."
Posted by Liz Seger at 06:05 PM | Comments (3)
June 16, 2009
How to Teach Math When You’re Blind
It's the third week in June, and, in keeping with our monthly eNN content schedule, we're asking for your feedback -- tips for helping George to effectively cope with his situation.
A fellow eSight member needs your feedback. She writes:
"My husband has had partial sight for years but is now going totally blind. He has worked as a math tutor for years, but this may no longer be possible.
"He has been pessimistic about developing computer skills that may offer him other opportunities because he says that he cannot be as quick as a sighted person.
"Do you know of any blind individuals that have developed necessary computer skills toward competitive employment?"
If you remember what it was like to have to start over and reinvent yourself, please share your experiences -- things you did to connect to the resources you needed so you could get computer training or how you identified organizations that offered the most meaningful help in finding employment or where to get the best advice in landing a job. All of this is very valuable.
What tips do you have for George?
We know that there are many eNN readers who have developed these skills and have advice that will help George move forward. Sharing your story now will help us all gain strength.
Posted by Liz Seger at 05:01 PM | Comments (13)
June 02, 2009
IRS Jobs: Lee Giurlanda’s Career Narrative
It’s the first week in June, and, in keeping with our schedule, today we’re highlighting the career narrative of Lee Giurlanda and focus on careers in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Lee began his 36-year career with the Internal Revenue Service in July, 1973, after completing the Taxpayer Service Program at Lions World Services for the Blind in Little Rock, Arkansas.
He started as a Taxpayer Service Representative in San Diego, California. Although totally Blind, Lee quickly moved into positions of increasing technical expertise and responsibility in front and mid-level management culminating in the position of Operations Manager of IRS’ Accounts Management call-center in Richmond, Virginia in 1998.
In September 2004, Lee was named the National Accessibility Coordinator for the Accounts Management Operation of IRS. In April, 2007, the IRS expanded Lee’s role to that of Chief Accessibility Coordinator for the Wage and Investment Division of IRS.
Also notice that the IRS is currently recruiting individuals with disabilities for Revenue Agents, Revenue Officers, and Tax Compliance Officers nationwide. Jobs are available in: AL, AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, LA, MA, MN, NJ, NY, OK, OR, PA, TX, UT, VA, WA, and WI. They will continue their recruiting until January 25, 2010.
Learn more about IRS policies for people with disabilities and to search and apply for jobs.
Remember: The IRS is not just about accounting. You can work in the IRS in a variety of ways -- in a field office, independently, reviewing tax audits and more. And, you can enjoy a flexible work schedule in many IRS jobs.
You never have to pay a fee to apply for an IRS job. From time to time you may see ads advising readers to call for an application and job information. The ads claim that they will send you the information you need to apply for an IRS position. The truth is that anyone seeking information regarding employment at the IRS can have it, free for the asking. All of the open positions are posted at www.usajobs.opm.gov.
During the coming months, eSight will be highlighting other individuals who have created interesting careers for themselves. These career narratives may provide you with the resources you need to explore internships or employment in a similar field.
What career path would you like to learn more about?
Posted by Liz Seger at 04:51 PM | Comments (0)