Research by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire found that dyslexics are great at pointing out things that are out of place like weeds in a garden. Researchers found that dyslexics could point out visual representations of causal reasoning at faster rates than non-dyslexics. Which means they can point out things that don't make sense in painting or photographs a lot easier and faster. In one study astrophysicists with dyslexia were able to pick out black holes from the noise faster than non-dyslexics. In another study with college students, dyslexics were better at memorizing blurry images that looked like x-rays. These are great advantages in medicine and science.
So, if dyslexia can be a gift, why does it make it harder to find employment. Dyslexics can have a tough time getting a job. Where do you even start? You can start by listing your strengths in your resume. Employers want to know your strengths and skills right off the bat to see if you fit the position. This is also a good selling point for you. By focusing on your strengths employers will see the positives of hiring you. Next, think about the support you may need in the application process and workplace. You can look for companies that are more likely to help like companies that are committed to hiring people with disabilities. They will be more than willing to help with any accommodations you may need and will be more likely to hire you than other companies.
If you are a student, it can be hard to find time to look for jobs between school work and extra-curricular activities or even if you graduated; your university has opportunities you can apply for. The career center will have resources for available internships in the area or even at the school. They can also help with your resume and cover letter. They may even help you apply to jobs that peek your interests. Still, looking for jobs can be overwhelming, but utilize your career center; it can help and put your mind at ease. When words move around on the page it can be hard to spot mistakes on a resume or cover letter so always have someone look it over. They will notice mistakes you made that spell check may not. If it's not possible to talk to someone at your career center, you can print of the qualifications of jobs you are interested in and then use keywords or color coated highlighters to pick out the requirements that you are qualified for. Then annotate those skills with examples and experiences of how you are qualified for the job. This exercise will ensure that you are applying for a job for which you are well qualified. It will also give you confidence before and during the subsequent interview because that preparation gave you ready responses that will help to eliminate long silences between questions. Information from this article was taken from these links:
Many jobs today also now require personality or psychometric tests. These tests will require a lot of reading, so ask for extra time if the tests are timed. Or see if the employer is able to offer an alternative assessment format; like a test that isn't multiple choice. Or the option of having the test read to you via a software program or by a company human resource person. You can also request a paper copy, a different size font or even color if reading it on screen or paper is difficult. Try practicing doing these tests in advance. There are free test samples to be found on the Internet (here is a free sample to one of those tests and here). If there is no deadline or time limit to take the test, take as much time as you need.
Now, that you have applied for the job and gotten the interview. How do you prepare?
Depends upon the type of interview: in person, online, on phone. In some instances, you can ask for interview questions beforehand or ask if questions can come one at a time instead of multiple questions at once. As mentioned above, you can go over the requirements and write down your qualifications to be prepared. There is also the STAR method. The S stands for Situation. You should describe the situation of the experience. T stands for task as in the Task you were attempting. A is for Action like the action you did to complete the task and R is the Result of your actions. Also, consider asking one of your friends or someone in the career center/services office about doing a mock interview to better prepare. They can formulate questions you will be asked in the interview to help your confidence. They can also give you feedback on how you can improve. If this isn't possible you can record your answers to common interview questions and listen to them to see how you can improve on your own. During the interview don't rush yourself. Take your time answering questions. Don't be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat questions. The important thing is that you understand the questions so you can answer them to the best of your ability. If you have disclosed your dyslexia, don't assume the interviewer understands the condition or has a negative view (see Dyslexia Jobseekers for more info on disclosure). They may ask about your dyslexia, but this will only be to understand your condition more. So use your dyslexia to your advantage by highlighting the unique skills your dyslexia has given you.
Depends upon the type of interview: in person, online, on phone. In some instances, you can ask for interview questions beforehand or ask if questions can come one at a time instead of multiple questions at once. As mentioned above, you can go over the requirements and write down your qualifications to be prepared. There is also the STAR method. The S stands for Situation. You should describe the situation of the experience. T stands for task as in the Task you were attempting. A is for Action like the action you did to complete the task and R is the Result of your actions. Also, consider asking one of your friends or someone in the career center/services office about doing a mock interview to better prepare. They can formulate questions you will be asked in the interview to help your confidence. They can also give you feedback on how you can improve. If this isn't possible you can record your answers to common interview questions and listen to them to see how you can improve on your own. During the interview don't rush yourself. Take your time answering questions. Don't be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat questions. The important thing is that you understand the questions so you can answer them to the best of your ability. If you have disclosed your dyslexia, don't assume the interviewer understands the condition or has a negative view (see Dyslexia Jobseekers for more info on disclosure). They may ask about your dyslexia, but this will only be to understand your condition more. So use your dyslexia to your advantage by highlighting the unique skills your dyslexia has given you.
Employers like positive people so be positive about your dyslexia--it just might get you the job!
Free personality tests:
https://www.practiceaptitudetests.com/free-tests/ https://www.assessmentday.co.uk/psychometric-test.htm
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