Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training

IBM and Westpac are members of the Employers Network on Disability and welcome applicants with disability.  They offerthe following tips for success.

WESTPAC

• Be yourself but be your best self.
• Smile. Be friendly, sincere and enthusiastic.
• Regard every interaction with the company or their agency as part of the interview process. Every telephone call, every email and every ‘come in for a chat’ adds to their picture of you.
• Consider whether you should disclose your disability or not. You may choose not to if your disability has no effect on your ability to do the job, or if it may provoke unnecessary curiosity. Alternatively, disclosure can generate trust and openness or avoid possible risks for other people in the workplace. Be clear about any adjustments you need for the interview to make it equitable and any modifications in the workplace.
• Make it easy for the interviewer. Talk in specifics about what you have done and indicate how it is relevant to the role.
• End negatives with a positive. If you haven’t had a particular experience, refer to something similar and say how you are able to learn new skills. Think ‘No but yes’.
• Ask questions that reflect preparation and logical thinking, and help you make an informed decision. You might want to find out about learning opportunities, career development, corporate responsibility, employment conditions, the organisation’s culture and a ‘typical day’ are areas you might want to find out about.

IBM

Before the interview – Assess, Prepare, Rehearse.

Assess – Study the position for which you’ve applied. What strengths will make you effective on the job? Do you have an understanding of your weaknesses?

Prepare – Research IBM and the business units you might want to join. The IBM website is a great place to start. Think about questions you might want to ask during the interview. And don’t forget the outfit: choose something that presents you well and reflects the position you hope to fill. Make sure to take a note of details about the interviewing venue (date, time) and the interviewer (eg. name and job role), so that you can prepare suitably. We will usually have a copy of your résumé but bring one with you, just in case.

Rehearse – Run through a mock interview session with a trusted friend. We’ll want to learn more about you, so be prepared to share some information about yourself and your career. Questions will range from the objective (eg. how many people did you manage) to the subjective (eg. how could you add value to IBM if you got this job).

The day of the interview – Rest, Arrive, Perform.

Rest – Interviews can be nerve wrecking, but make sure you get enough rest the night before. You’ll want to be mentally alert.

Arrive – Plan to be at the interviewing venue at least 15 minutes ahead of time. This will allow you to collect your thoughts and appear cool and confident in front of us.

Perform – You can now put all that practise and preparation to work. We’re looking for people who can think well in a high-stress situation (like an interview!). Take your time to answer and don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat a question. A pause between thoughts is better than a garbled response.
Above all, relax and be calmly confident of your abilities. It’s all right to be nervous, but we hope your personality and passion will still shine through. This is a time to connect with us and show why you’re the right fit for IBM.