Job Hunting Tips for the So-Called Handicapped: Or People Who Have Disabilities

by Richard Nelson Bolles

A sensitively written job hunting manual for the disabled offers practical advice on how and where to find a job; explains the reasons behind employers' reactions to disabled persons; and provides useful tools for challenging stereotypes. Original.

64 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1991

About the author

Dick Bolles, more formally known as Richard Nelson Bolles, was a former Episcopal clergyman, a member of high-IQ society Mensa, and the author of the best-selling job-hunting book, What Color is Your Parachute? The book remained on The New York Times best-seller list for more than a decade and has sold over 10 million copies.

Reviews

[CTEP]

Over the course of the next year, I will be working closely with youth and young adults with disabilities in The Zone at the South Minneapolis WorkForce Center. I do not have very much experience working with disabled people-- much less helping them find jobs-- and so when I came across this book by Richard Nelson Bolles and Dale Susan Brown in the reference library at the WorkForce Center, I thought it would be an extremely relevant book to read for my first book report.

The book itself consists of different chapters related to legislation regarding employers/employees with disabilities, difficulties that people with disabilities might face with potential employers, and how to deal with different situations. Reading these different scenarios really opened my eyes as to the feelings and situations that people with disabilities face during the entire job-search process, as well as how I, as a person without a disability, perceive people with disabilities. In addition to this, I learned a great deal about coming up with creative solutions to potential employers' issues that may arise during the interview process.

Although I did learn some valuable information, I would not sugegst this book to someone who is looking to learn more aout helping people with disabilities who are seeking employment. The authors writing style speaks directly to the reader who has a disability and often becomes more inspirational than informative.

[Denise Spicer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting read for those who live or work with people who have various disabilities. Some case study or anecdotal examples, plus advice and suggestions to encourage those people. Unfortunately, some individuals may have the types of disabilities that make it difficult to read and analyze this advice. Use of humor especially that of cartoonist John Callahan.

[mlady_rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not exactly handicapped, but I'm walking with a cane, and I don't have much stamina, even with the cane. I've been wondering if that has affected my job search.... If that has turned off interviewers before we even got to my qualifications.

The jobs I'm looking at are computer based desk jobs, so limited mobility shouldn't be an issue, but.... It's hard to know if that has contributed to unsuccessful interviews, or if there were just more qualified candidates. There are certainly a glut of candidates, given the current economic situation.

I don't know that this book did any more than state the obvious. You have to reassure the employer that you can do the job, and that your handicap won't be an obstacle. On some level, I knew that already.

The section on tribes was interesting. Unfortunately most of my tribes are based in cyberspace. They're great for a reassuring word or two, but not really good for work related networking.