By Chelsea Lamb:
A disability can impact the way you navigate daily life and your career, but that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve your professional dreams. Technology advancements have changed the way people work and created new opportunities for people of all abilities. The tips below illustrate how you can use technology to meet your professional goals and continue to grow.
Use Tech Tools to Find Jobs
It can feel daunting to begin a job search, and the job market is competitive. Technology can help you find opportunities and apply quickly when the right role becomes available.
But how does technology help in finding a job? There are many ways, from automated job listing emails to social networks for professionals. For example, creating a Google Alert for job posts means you can receive an email each time a new job posting matches your search terms.
LinkedIn is one way to grow a professional network. You can even apply for jobs directly on the site. Online review sites are another tool that helps job seekers make smart application decisions. Sites such as Glassdoor and Indeed have employee reviews that offer insight into how companies operate and what benefits they offer.
Make Your Resume Stand Out
A professional, in-depth resume is your best tool for getting a job interview and possibly an employment offer. To pass through human resource checkpoints and attract hiring managers, your CV should feature strong content and be visually appealing.
Writing the content for your resume might be the most challenging part of the job search. Following conventions, like listing past jobs in reverse-chronological order, is important, but so is writing dynamic job duties. Using action verbs makes your resume engaging and professional.
Visual elements are also essential, especially for openings that receive a high volume of applications. Start with a clean format, then add a bit of color, charts, and even infographics to add interest.
Once you have a completed document, using an online PDF editor makes updates quick and easy. Upload your file online to make changes, then download a new copy to submit with your next job application.
Build Skills with Remote Learning
Are you hoping to make a career change or want to brush up on business skills? Remote learning makes it possible without traveling to a college campus.
Studying online means that earning a degree in business, management, communications, or accounting is more accessible, even if you work full-time. Remote education can still be rigorous, so stay connected and practice good study habits.
Test Out Assistive Technology
Assistive technology spans a wide range of tools, both software and hardware, that make it easier to complete job tasks. The World Health Organization defines assistive products by listing wheelchairs, glasses, prostheses, communication aids, and memory aids, but the list doesn’t stop there.
For example, communication aids can include anything from enhanced signage in the workplace to devices that create audio output in place of verbal speech. Explore assistive technology that suits your career and needs to increase your independence—including tools outside of those intended for people with disabilities.
Although strategies like upgrading your webcam and learning to use Zoom more effectively aren’t specific to a disability, these digital-age professional skills are invaluable at work.
Seek Home-Based Opportunities
Home-based work can present a rewarding opportunity for many workers, including those with disabilities. Working from home eliminates any commute, reduces the need for accommodations, and can be more comfortable for employees.
Though remote work has grown in popularity, finding legitimate opportunities can be challenging. Yet many well-known companies hire remotely for entry-level jobs and even corporate gigs.
Be Careful
Learning how to avoid scams in the modern job market is also crucial. Always research the company in question, pay attention to discrepancies in the information or their communication methods, and never pay for an opportunity.
From remote learning that lets you earn a degree from your living room to assistive devices that open up new career opportunities, technology is invaluable in the professional realm. Developments in technology have made the job market more accessible than ever for people of all different abilities.
Chelsea Lamb has spent the last eight years honing her tech skills and is the resident tech specialist and co-founder of BusinessPop.net. Her goal is to demystify some of the technical aspects of business ownership and entrepreneurship.