Graduating from university is an exciting time in your life, as you prepare to embark on your chosen career. However the job seeking process can sometimes feel confusing, frustrating and complex for all graduates, including those with disability. There are decisions to be made about career goals and pathways, work experience opportunities, competition for positions and new skills to be learned in résumé writing and job interviews.
Graduates with disabilities may find the process easier if they are able to effectively and confidently deal with issues related to disclosing disability, negotiating work place adjustments and flexible work practices with an employer and having a broad knowledge of anti-discrimination legislation covering disability employment.
This resource will address these topics and guide you in entering, staying and succeeding in the work force. You may find this guide helpful if you or someone you know has a disability and is a university student about to graduate, a recent graduate or a person with tertiary qualifications who is seeking to re-enter employment.
People with disability now represent a significant minority of both the Australian population and work force. Yet studies have shown graduates with disability experience a greater level of unemployment than those without. In addition they are more likely to be under-employed or in an area outside their desired career, be working part-time or self employed.
The good news is evidence suggests that once in employment, they are equally if not more productive, take fewer sick days and remain in the job longer than their able-bodied colleagues. This contradicts many negative stereotypes about disability in employment and shows there is a strong business case for employing graduates with disability.