[Jobs] need help with writing cover letters for resumes

[Dick Davis]

Good, it's actually 20 degrees warmer than normal here, which is not all
that unusual.  Heard anything from the state?  Respond offline at
ddavis at blindinc.org.

Dick Davis

-----Original Message-----
From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Mike Galloway
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:12 AM
To: Jobs for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Jobs] need help with writing cover letters for resumes

Good advice, Dick. I teach the same things down south.
How's Minnisota these days?
Mike Galloway, M.A.,C.R.C.
vrijobs at bellsouth.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Davis" <ddavis at blindinc.org>
To: "'Jobs for the Blind'" <jobs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Jobs] need help with writing cover letters for resumes


> Cheryl,
>
> Don't put information about your blindness or the fact that you use a 
> guide
> dog in your cover letter.  Doing so will only increase your risk of being
> screened out. The only time you should put this kind of information in a
> cover letter is when you know it will help you get an interview.
>
> Some blind people worry that if they don't provide this information, the
> employer will think that they are dishonest.  That's unlikely, as it's
> illegal under the ADA for an employer to ask for such information or 
> expect
> you to supply it.
>
> On the other hand, you should always discuss your blindness in the first
> five minutes of the interview.  It "breaks the ice" and shows you are a
> regular person.  Your tone should be straightforward and un-apologetic,
> something like this:
>
> "You've probably noticed I have a guide dog.  That's because I am blind, 
> and
> have been so for many years.  Basically, I'll do the same tasks as your
> other employees, but I may use some different methods to get them done. If
> you want to know how I would do something, please ask me.  You won't hurt 
> my
> feelings at all, and it will help you to understand better. Do you have 
> any
> questions for me?"
>
> If the interviewer asks you questions, answer them simply, briefly, and
> factually.  If you need to know more information about the job in order to
> answer them, say, "I need to know more about the job and how it's usually
> done before I can answer that."  Then lead the interviewer back into the
> interview.
>
> If the interviewer starts asking lots of irrelevant or personal questions
> about blindness, gently redirect him/her back into the interview by 
> saying,
> "Well, enough about me - I want to learn more about the job and your
> company."  Then follow up with questions of your own. The interviewer will
> take the hint.
>
> If you really want the employer to know in advance, call him/her the day
> before the interview to confirm the appointment.  When it's confirmed, say
> something like this: "By the way, I thought I'd tell you I'm blind, 
> because
> sometimes it shocks interviewers when I just show up. I've been blind for
> some time, and it's no big deal to me, so please feel free to ask me any
> questions you have about it.  Do you have any questions right now?"
>
> Never provide information about your blindness on an interviewer's voice
> mail or pass it through another person.  Do it on a person to person 
> basis,
> so you can answer any questions the interviewer has.
>
> This is probably more information than you wanted, but it's what I teach 
> all
> my students, and it works very well.
>
> Dick Davis
> BLIND, Inc.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf 
> Of
> cheryl echevarria
> Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 6:13 PM
> To: nagdu; nfb offic professionals; jobs
> Subject: [Jobs] need help with writing cover letters for resumes
>
> It has been awhile since I have sent out cover letters for resumes and 
> this
> is the first time doing being blind and having a guide dog. If someone 
> could
> give me advice about how to present this in a cover letter for a potential
> job that would be great. I hope my brothers and sisters out there would be
> so kind to help. thanks.
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> NFB of NY/Long Island Chapter
> skype: angeldn38
> windows live messenger:
> cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com<mailto:cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Jobs mailing list
> Jobs at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/jobs 

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