|
Post by vagueandrandom on Oct 20, 2016 10:59:26 GMT
I was going to post this in my diary, but think that it might make a good discussion.
My disability employment advisor, who's always been great, suggested that I need
to 'stretch myself' and wanted me to agree to applying for 3 jobs a week. I already
apply for any job that I feel that I could do, but it sometimes takes a week to complete one. .
especially if I really want it. The pressure to get it right gives me a kind of mental paralysis
and I just can't pull my thoughts together to write anything coherent. I tried to explain
this and that having a set goal every week would cause too much anxiety and would probably
result in NO applications being completed and I would feel like I had failed.
Sometimes the more I'm pushed, the harder my brain pushes back.
It made me realise how difficult it is to explain my ND brain to someone NT, however
sympathetic they seem.
I've spoken to a lot of fellow ADHDers about this and everyone understands my point of view.
My advisor sees an intelligent, capable woman with two degrees and a wide range of
experience who really wants to work. .
It took a lot of courage to admit my difficulties and try to explain what happens in my head.
All of my life I've been pretending that everything's OK . .and it's not!
How can we explain? It's difficult enough to explain the forgetfulness and disorganisation
without getting the reply "but we all do that"
|
|
Endymion
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 34
|
Post by Endymion on Oct 20, 2016 12:24:16 GMT
Why the need to explain?
Just tell them that your disability prevents you from doing certain things and what they are asking you to do is one such thing.
They then have to find alternative means of achieving the same result.
My response would be to tell them how they are going to achieve the goal of getting me a job. Come up with a plan of action. Also defeats any argument that you are not cooperating with them.
For instance I would ask them to, in the first instance, contact the employer to ask for an interview on the basis of a CV and no requirement for application - say that disability requires accommodation of such requests. Also request they assist with completion of applications (50% of such forms can be populated with info they hold and takes off some pressure of completing a blank form)
|
|
|
Post by vagueandrandom on Oct 20, 2016 19:01:20 GMT
I get help with forms . .it's the written statements I have problems with. .
sometimes I need to talk it through and be prompted to think of examples
and phrasing and I can work from there as it's started and structured.
I did suggest that I carried on as I am with more help, but with no target to scare me.
It doesn't help that they always tell me how brilliant my applications are, then
I don't get shortlisted for interview.
I'm not convinced that I'd get an interview if they were to call up for me and ask,
I'd not thought about that and I see what they think. .most jobs I apply for state
the application method and indicate that applications will not be accepted in any other format
and even say how many additional pages are allowed.
I don't want ANY job either, I've been stuck in or have been sacked from so many that I hate.
|
|
Endymion
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 34
|
Post by Endymion on Oct 20, 2016 19:16:39 GMT
I would ask each and every employer who says there is only one way to apply for a job in their organisation what method of payment they will be using to pay the damages awarded to you for the finding of disability discrimination against them.
Bet they soon start accepting suitable alternative job applications.
|
|
Endymion
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 34
|
Post by Endymion on Oct 20, 2016 19:20:31 GMT
From the UK.gov website:
Alternative formats You must provide information about the vacancy in alternative formats (eg large print) on request if this is reasonable. You must also accept applications in alternative formats (eg electronically) where possible
|
|
Endymion
Member's not posted much yet
Posts: 34
|
Post by Endymion on Oct 20, 2016 19:37:38 GMT
I would ask your DWP advisor to see if any of the prospective employers are on the Disability Confident scheme. They should be far more accommodating to your needs as they get benefits from the government (I think) for employing people with disabilities etc.
Hope i am not teaching you to suck eggs ...apologies if so.
|
|
|
Post by vagueandrandom on Oct 20, 2016 19:57:46 GMT
Thanks Endymion. The Disability Confident scheme is one reason that I decided to acknowledge my disabilities (I also have EDS, which is becoming more problematic) as I've been applying for jobs for years without getting interviews. I still don't get interviews, even when I meet the requirements. .and when I ask for feedback they say that I don't meet all of them, but won't specify what . .it pisses me off! One job was working for a disability service provider and the feedback was that they had a lot of applications and had a strict points system to ensure equality . . I'm also massively overqualified for most of the jobs I apply for as I don't want to get myself into something too administrative, as I now know why I've struggled with this type of work in the past.
|
|
|
Post by blaze on Oct 25, 2016 11:03:28 GMT
I identify with the menatal paralysis hugely, I used to put it down to adhd procrastination but now we are looking at pda asseasements for my kids the pressure avoidance stands out to me.
But I find that strange as other than sensory issues I don't meet asd criteria. I'm a bit socially akward or gawky perhaps in some circumstances (or so I think, others disagree as I do well socially over all) I don't get social politics & tend to be gullible honest (am stretching here....) but many of the asd difficulties are my strengths & so don't fit, but the avoidance of pressure is huge.
I'm a major under achiever, quite comfortabley so but I do wounder if I didn't freeze with pressure what I'd be better suited to. Many of my best essays were ones I didn't bother to make much effort with (or ones I wrote for other people).
Sorry nothing useful, I can't follow the train of thought with too many teeny paras, but I v much identify with the menatal paralysis. It's probably my biggest struggle, although I have taylored life around it not to be, but probably the only thing I would directly change about my adhd & Meds don't touch it at all. Although I'd swap my ed in a heart beat, pain sucks as do the pain Meds. .....
Good luck job searching
|
|
|
Post by marionk on Oct 26, 2016 12:05:34 GMT
That OP seems to me to be a very clear explanation.
The fact he appears not to understand that, at first appears to be a typical NT not understanding ND problems, but that '3 applications a week' rings bells for me.
Isn't that one of the requirements when on regular unemployment benefit? Is he perhaps trying to show that you are capable of sufficient 'work related activity' to bump you into the next group?
Although, if you are applying for jobs at all, maybe you are already in the work related activity group?
|
|
|
Post by vagueandrandom on Oct 26, 2016 20:19:53 GMT
marionk I don't claim unemployment benefits, so there's no threat of sanctions. It's Remploy though and their job is to help get me into work. .
|
|
|
Post by marionk on Oct 26, 2016 21:20:20 GMT
Oh yeah! I remember now.
That makes it even weirder. :S
|
|
|
Post by foggyboy on May 16, 2017 17:07:57 GMT
vagueandrandom how useful have you found Remploy? I'm thinking about using them.
|
|
|
Post by vagueandrandom on May 16, 2017 21:22:25 GMT
foggyboy Remploy were good while I was with them, but I didn't find a job after 6 months so they dropped me . .apparently they told me this at the start, but it came as a shock when it happened as I'd forgotten (ADHD) . . the first I knew about it was when they gave me my exit appointment. .
|
|