Applying for senior roles with a disability

geek84

Hi Folks

I have a disability and have applied for several senior roles such as team leader & management in my related career area which is finance.

On every occasion, I seem to be overlooked.  Whenever I ask the reason  for the rejection I always get the standard reply that there were other candidates who had more experience/better qualifications for the job  role advertised.

I think one of the reasons for rejection might be because of my disability, or am I being paranoid?

Has anyone else experienced this or know of anyone who has?

Thank You

Ails

Hi @geek84 and welcome to the Community.  It is nice to meet you and thank you for sharing with us.  Yes, sadly I believe that disability discrimination does still happen a lot in the field of employment and it is difficult to think on the contrary so I don't think you are being paranoid.  I have went for several positions in the past (that weren't senior) only to be told that I wasn't successful and that others had more experience/qualifications than me.  It is extremely frustrating so I can understand if you are feeling disheartened.

I would start to ask interviewers where exactly I went wrong at the interview as it is not good enough for them just to say that there were other candidates with more experience, etc.  They should be able to give you proper feedback so that you can take this on board for future interviews.  I have always found feedback to be really helpful.  It is a very hard thing to prove that someone is discriminating against you because of your disability, but best to remember also that sometimes it is simply due to another person coming in who has slightly more experience/qualifications.  Although being disabled it is hard not to immediately think you are being discriminated against.

All you can do is keep going as you are doing and one of these days you will get lucky, as not everyone discriminates, but sees a disabled employee as being a very positive asset to their organisation.  Good luck in your search for a job and please keep in touch and let us know how you get on.  If there is anything we can help you with then please just let us know.  All the best. 

pollyanna1052

geek84

Thank you

Adrian_Scope

Welcome to the community @geek84. I'm sorry you've experienced this. Can I ask if you're currently looking for work?

geek84

Hi Adrian

Yes I am looking for work.

Chloe_Alumni

Hi @geek84, sorry to hear this. It must be very frustrating! You may find our employment services helpful:

Online employment support

Support to Work is an online and telephone support programme for disabled people who are looking for work.

Please do let us know how you get on.

geek84

Thanks Chloe

Isaac_Alumni

Hi @geek84

Thank you for you message.

On our Support to Work service we cover disability discrimination and how to overcome it including picking the best time and way to disclose your disability to avoid being discriminated against based on your disability.

Our Support to Work programme can support with suggesting the best places to look for jobs and also support you to apply for them. For more information click on the below link
https://www.scope.org.uk/employment-services/support-to-work/

Our Support to Work is open to disabled people who:

• are 16 years or over
• are looking for a paid job
• have internet, email and telephone or Skype access
• live in England or Wales

Good luck and let us know how you get on

geek84

Thanks.  However I'm in a difficult situation - although I am disabled, I am not registered as disabled 

Chloe_Alumni

Hi @geek84, what do you mean by registered? Everyone with a disability is able to access this service. I hope they can help and please do let us know how you get on!