One in ten people are thought to suffer from some degree of dyslexia, so if you have the condition and haven’t had a positive experience in education—understandably—you may feel less confident when it comes to job searching with dyslexia.
Dyslexia Help: Job Searching Tips
Be honest about your strengths. Just because you may have difficulty with aspects of reading, writing and spelling doesn’t make you less of a strong candidate. Everyone has their strengths—so what’s yours?
Many people who have dyslexia have found that they are more creative, good problem-solvers and have strong communication skills. They also have a different outlook and approach to their work, so think about what your strengths are and remember to start out with a positive mind-set.
Think about what you find difficult. Think about your weaknesses and how they could be improved. Most of time, there are solutions that can aid you with your dyslexia, especially within the workplace.
It’s important to remember that there is an Access to Work scheme, which means you can be provided with assistive tech, such as specialist software or screen overlays.
That’s why it’s important to let your potential employer know about your dyslexia. When you want to disclose it, whether in the interview or at the start of your job, is entirely up to you, but remember that they need to know about your condition or they can’t do anything to help.
If you are worried about letting your employer know about your dyslexia, remember it is a legal requirement that the employer makes reasonable adjustments in the workplace for employees with additional needs—so don’t feel put off.
Ask a friend to help. It may seem like an added effort, but when preparing your CV and cover letter a friend can be incredibly helpful. Having an extra pair of eyes on your work means that someone else can spot the things you may have missed and ensure that your CV and cover letter is the best it can be.
If you are finding that your job search is particularly difficult, JobCentre Plus provide disability employment advisers who are trained specialists that can help people with dyslexia find work.
If you want to learn more about Access to Work and how assistive technology can help you and your individual needs, take a look at the rest of our website or you can get in touch with an advisor at info@iansyst.co.uk or by calling us on 01223 420 101.