Should Deafness/HOH Be Mentioned on Resumes?

Loghead · 07-22-2009, 10:00 PM

I have always thought that it would not be a wise choice to list my hearing impairment on my resume because I thought that as soon as they were to see it they'd chuck my resume in the garbage and not bother giving me a chance, but if they saw me in person they would realize that the fact that I am hard of hearing would have no effect on my job performance.

However, JClarke brought up some good points when he disagreed with my thinking. So I am wondering if maybe part of the reason why I am unable to possess a summer job is due to the fact that I am not owning up to my hearing problem to a possible employer and I am leaving them in the dark, not educating them about something that they have very little knowledge about and maybe that could be a big reason for my current unemployment. So, I am thinking about adding it to my resume.

So what about you? Have you put your deafness on your resume? If no, why not? If yes, did you give any explanations or go into detail about it and do you think it helped you get a job because you were open and honest about it?

I always thought it was a private matter and the fact that I am HOH was none of their business and that I didn't need to bother telling them because they could possibly use it against me. But now I'm on the fence.

souggy · 07-22-2009, 10:42 PM

No. I will tell you why. Employers will chuck it into the garbage if they see it on the résumé, and you can't prove to human rights administration if it is discrimination or not. At least during a job interview, you can get a gauge of the employer's bias, and thus act upon it if necessary.

I know one of my bosses was grateful that I didn't list my deafness or blindness on my résumé. He hired me because he figured I could handle the job when I explained to him DURING the interview how I could overcome the roadblocks that I may face in the workplace. Hope that help.

dogmom · 07-23-2009, 08:00 AM

here's is my experience as someone with LD - including also possible a auditory processing disorder - and new hoh - I personally do not disclose anything til after I get the job. Then I think it is my responsibility to disclose because if my employer and co-workers are going to have a chance of being non-judgemental and willing to work with me <NOT saying that that is automatic, regardless> then they need to know that these things about me as opposed to purely thinking I am not interested in the job, not doing my best etc. Also for safety factor, I am working with other people and in this case now, many dogs, so we all need to <attempt> to work as team and that can't happen if one individual is purposely hiding something that affects interaction and/or standard job performance. Under ADA one is not required to disclose anything unless accommodations are needed for the job interview. This all said, my current supervisor thinks I need to "listen better" and often gets frustrated or angry cuz I miss something for whatever reason <sigh>

Daredevel7 · 07-23-2009, 08:45 AM

I never put it in my resume, because that's just odd. However, I do mention it in a cover letter. I don't elaborate on it, just a simple statement that I am deaf and can't talk on the phone, so I prefer email.

For a while, I debated on whether I should mention it or not. I just figured it was easier doing an interview with them having a low expectation of me (but giving me a chance) than them being shocked that I am deaf and making the interview awkward.

naisho · 07-23-2009, 09:10 AM

A resume isn't supposed to be a personal biography, at least not here where I am.

They're supposed to be short, concise, one page explanation of your merits and employment experiences and education.

A resume is to be used as a standard for all jobs entry level up to around professional/business, then once you are going past that point to a step up for stuff in the graduate field you use a curriculum vitae. In a CV I can see it being worthy of mentioning of your deafness and things associated with it in the interest section or something.

But on a resume, around here, no.

The followup is in the interview where they communicate with you personally and then you can reveal more about yourself. If you do it on the resume, like someone else mentioned, it's likely going to get overlooked or tossed into the trash along with a condolence letter sent to you. Has to deal with an unproved fact that the majority of planet earth does not understand deafness.

If you're sending it to an employer that knows or works with deafness in general, like say Deaf Advocates or a VRS company, then by all means there's no reason to hide it to them since they work in that field and understand it already.

naisho · 07-23-2009, 09:38 AM

I thought about it for a second to why someone would want to mention their deafness on a resume, and saw there are some good reasons as it can promote your ability to stand out and being honest. However where I am from, honesty is overlooked or believed to be nonexistent.

Having fully thought it out, it has to really depend on the job you are going for, along with your location in demographics.

If it's a job where your deafness will be a huge hindrance or unfeasible to perform the job as capable of as your hearing peers, common sense should tell you not to even apply for the job.

Like attempting to be a police officer, FBI agent as deaf/past normal HOH. Or being a lumberjack. Or a specific branch of construction work. Employments like this are where if you don't hear, and your life is in danger, they must know about your deafness yes, but you shouldn't even be applying for it unless you risk the factors involved. I'm not saying "no, you can't do this", if you understand what I'm conveying. More like, "do it at your discretion".

Office jobs in the pink/white form (which the majority of us who have replied seem feasible with) are where deafness is not an extremity to be mentioned first up the bat.

Loghead · 07-23-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by souggy

No. I will tell you why. Employers will chuck it into the garbage if they see it on the résumé, and you can't prove to human rights administration if it is discrimination or not. At least during a job interview, you can get a gauge of the employer's bias, and thus act upon it if necessary.

I know one of my bosses was grateful that I didn't list my deafness or blindness on my résumé. He hired me because he figured I could handle the job when I explained to him DURING the interview how I could overcome the roadblocks that I may face in the workplace. Hope that help.

That was exactly how I thought about it. I guess it really depends on the employer, like Naisho said, and whether or not they understand what it means to be deaf or hard of hearing. However, I still do not think that it would be a wise choice for me to list it on my resume because, like I mentioned earlier and like you mentioned in your post Souggy, they will see it and chuck it into the garbage because some people are ignorant.

shygirl1999 · 07-23-2009, 05:41 PM

No, I never put it on my resume or job application ... I never actually thought about it ... because they are supposed to list your positive marks (you want to "sell yourself"; as I was always told) .. unless a question asks you otherwise; which I have yet to come across one that requires me to list HoH.

... I used to work on the phones at a call center and I did just fine on the phones ... and I say I had an advantage because I didn't have to plug up my other ear to hear customers (we were in open call center setting, no wall barriers to help sound, got very noisy).

I think having SSD (single-sided-deafness) actually helped me in the workplace

Banjo · 07-23-2009, 06:22 PM

No, it's out of question. I prefer to not disclose anything until the interview.

shel90 · 07-23-2009, 06:33 PM

In my 20 plus experience of applying for jobs and working at least 7 different jobs in my lifetime, I have never once put down my deafness on my resume. It has never crossed my mind. It is not a part of my skill nor experience.

BecLak · 07-23-2009, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

In my 20 plus experience of applying for jobs and working at least 7 different jobs in my lifetime, I have never once put down my deafness on my resume. It has never crossed my mind. It is not a part of my skill nor experience.

I feel it depends on the job you are applying for as many have mentioned. I agree with Shel90. A resume is quoting your skills and experience in the line of work. Perhaps stating that you know ASL would be appropriate, just as you would list foreign languages on your resume.

shel90 · 07-23-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BecLak

I feel it depends on the job you are applying for as many have mentioned. I agree with Shel90. A resume is quoting your skills and experience in the line of work. Perhaps stating that you know ASL would be appropriate, just as you would list foreign languages on your resume.

I agree with putting down ASL down to identify oneself as bilingual or knowing more than one language. Up to each applicant if they are comfortable with it.

JennyB · 07-26-2009, 10:24 PM

I work as a support worker and so often being Deaf can HELP me get a job. I work with a lot of Deaf clients so it is often important that I am Deaf. I always state that I know ASL and English as well as Signed Exact English and Cued Speech depending on the job.

dogmom · 07-26-2009, 10:42 PM

I do agree that ASL specifically as a skill, like any other skill, is good to put on a resume and can be especially useful for certain positions, as can the cultural connection of "Deaf" be useful for certain positions. I therefore think these are more significant for resume than the ideas of utilizing "deaf" or "hearing loss" only in themselves if those does not relate to specific skill or advantage in the resume.

ASLGAL · 07-27-2009, 06:21 PM

I voted, Not Sure

It would depend on a great many things, one of the biggest being "Does the business have a history of discrimiatory behavior toward D/deaf or HOH?" . Is that why they want to know?

~added:
I guess I misunderstood. I thought it was to put that you are D/deaf/HOH on your resume but I see that it is should you put ASL as a second language.
I agree that ASL should be placed on the resume as an added special skill.

Bebonang · 07-27-2009, 09:11 PM

I put down the vote for not sure and on the fence. Funny thing is I don`t remember if I had put the Deaf or ASL in the resume. I guess I had put my experience on what job I know how to work with. It depend on how the interviewer want to hire me or not. It is hard to find a job and get discriminate because of some kind of disability like deafness, blind or wheelchair bound. The only way is to feel what you want to put the information down for the job only and worry about that later, I think.

sallylou · 07-29-2009, 09:50 PM

No. Employers may ask on job applications if you require any accommodations.

omegaman · 07-31-2009, 08:33 AM

I vote no. The purpose of a resume is to sell yourself to get an interview, thus a resume should only contain positive things.

Yeah, I know people here will say that there is nothing negative about being deafness. But, we should assume that an employer is likely a hearing person whom may not know anything about deafness. You also have to assume that an employer will also receive other resumes, too. So, how will your resume compete against others?

Once you reach the interview stage, you will have the opportunity to prove that you are suitable candidate for the job, etc. So, the employer would be able to judge you as a person rather than something written on a piece of paper.

shel90 · 07-31-2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omegaman

I vote no. The purpose of a resume is to sell yourself to get an interview, thus a resume should only contain positive things.

Yeah, I know people here will say that there is nothing negative about being deafness. But, we should assume that an employer is likely a hearing person whom may not know anything about deafness. You also have to assume that an employer will also receive other resumes, too. So, how will your resume compete against others?

Once you reach the interview stage, you will have the opportunity to prove that you are suitable candidate for the job, etc. So, the employer would be able to judge you as a person rather than something written on a piece of paper.

I cant disagree with that. I would rather show the prospect employer what I am capable of doing and maybe blow away any myths about deafness. I had an employer for a construction company who admitted to me that she used to think all deaf people were supervised by a caretaker or family members until she met me at an interview. I got hired for the job.

omegaman · 07-31-2009, 08:51 AM

It happened to me, too. The employer thought deaf people couldn't speak English. I got the job.

PowerON · 07-31-2009, 09:27 AM

disability is our business.

TheWriteAlex · 07-31-2009, 01:12 PM

Under no circumstances would I list my hearing loss in my resume. It's just not the right place to put that type of information. The resume is where you list experience, skills, education, and awards/honors. I would, however, mention it in the cover letter (like Daredevel said) if I felt it could potentially help me get hired, but it really depends on the job and the employer.

One thing to keep in mind is that being Deaf/HoH means you are in a minority group, and some employers, particularly government agencies and public universities, will actually give you more consideration because of that. If I were applying to a job where I felt the employer was fair and that my hearing loss would not negatively affect my performance, I would definitely mention in my cover letter that I am HoH. The reason for putting it in the CL is because it gives you the opportunity to educate the employer on how to think about your hearing (rather than letting them fall back on their own biases and misconceptions of deafness). The trick is to be rhetorical and make the employer believe that hiring a deaf/HoH individual will actually benefit their company. One way to do this is to discuss an example where you have gained a special insight by overcoming communication barriers. The more closely you can relate your personal experience to the type of job you will be performing, the better. This shows the employer that you are resourceful and independent and won't be a burden on the company.It also shows that you think in a way that just might in fact be productive for the job you're applying.

This is also the case for applying to schools, and I encourage all of you soon-to-be college students to really be candid about your hearing in your entrance essays. When I was applying for undergrad, I didn't mention it, and I didn't get into any of my top choices. When I applied for grad school, I made it the focus of my cover letter, and I ended up getting accepted to my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th picks. Of course, that higher success rate was probably due to a combination of many things (better grades, writing sample, etc.) but it certainly did not hurt to mention that I am HoH.

Jolie77 · 07-31-2009, 10:00 PM

I have not once put my deafness on the application/resume but since I graduated from a deaf school, it would be more than an obvious give away to note that I'm deaf.

Nevertheless, I have not had a problem with being denied of a job. Like everyone has said, the purpose of a resume/application is to make a statement of yourself, not because of your deafness but because of your qualifications/experience. The more you have it built up, the more chances you may be able to get.

The bottom line is - it is about how you are able to relay the information on the paper to make it attractive for any future prospective employers. I'm not saying that it has to be fabricated but it can also be creative with using the right words that are instilled on it.

deafannieboo · 08-01-2009, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omegaman

I vote no. The purpose of a resume is to sell yourself to get an interview, thus a resume should only contain positive things.

Yeah, I know people here will say that there is nothing negative about being deafness. But, we should assume that an employer is likely a hearing person whom may not know anything about deafness. You also have to assume that an employer will also receive other resumes, too. So, how will your resume compete against others?

Once you reach the interview stage, you will have the opportunity to prove that you are suitable candidate for the job, etc. So, the employer would be able to judge you as a person rather than something written on a piece of paper.

i agree here. i do say put asl in resume if you are fluent or PSE or SEE or speech read. whatever your communication mode is as far as that goes. if u get interv then u go into detail. resume gets u an interview. once being interviewed the empolyer can clearly see how well u will function in that work environment. be open and truthfull about ur needed accomidations.

badwolf · 11-08-2009, 12:11 PM

I don't mention it on the resume or cover letter. I did mention it once on a cover letter for a job that I was definitely qualified (perhaps even over-qualified) for and the employer never called me or emailed me back, even after I left both a voicemail message and an email asking about the job, he didn't respond. And then I found out a friend of mine with no qualifications got the job. Yeah, I was pissed off.

Once I'm hired I always tell my employer.

At my current job they don't get it so I spend a fair bit of time re-explaining why talking with a coffee mug in front of one's face is a bad idea. At my other job they're a bit more accommodating and understanding.

Lighthouse77 · 11-08-2009, 05:04 PM

I would say no, because they can easily say "I already hired someone before I saw your resume" or "I didn't get your resume"... you can't tell what they do in the private of their own office while going through resumes

It is just easy for them to toss your resume in a pile.

but once they interview you, they know they can't discriminate you.

whatdidyousay! · 11-08-2009, 08:10 PM

I had job at GE when I was younger and I had to have a hearing test!! The woman that was giving me the test kept telling to raise my hand when I heard a sound ! I told her I had the test before and that I am not hearing the sounds!! I got the job as I knew the vice president of GE ! I did not pass my hearing test!! I would not put that on a resumes , I would go to job interview and see how it goes . If you think you were turn down for being HOH I would call a lawyer or some center for deaf and HOH people.

CJB · 11-08-2009, 09:13 PM

No, unless you don't want to get hired.

Ditto with any other disability. It's just a fact of life that people view disabilities as less than.

Cheri · 11-08-2009, 10:46 PM

I voted no, I don't put down that I'm deaf on my resume or job application because I want them to give a deaf person the same chance as a hearing person when they call back for a face to face interview, If I did put deaf on my resume or job application then it's a possibility that they will dump my resume or job application in the reject pile.

There are many employers who are not so ready to give a first chance to any deaf or hard of hearing people who can do the task on the job. They got their head full of negatives, thinks the worst of deaf people and they are doing this by their ignorance plain and simple. If you show them what you are made of, they might give you a chance on the spot.

djchur · 11-10-2009, 04:14 PM

I think it depends on the job you are applying for. I am training to be a mental health nurse and as a nurse you are accountable for your actions and have to practice safely.

When I go on work placements I have to tell my supervisors about my hearing loss, my university have told me I have an obligation to do so. Reactions to my disclosure vary, some people get quite excited and ask me what sort of accommodations I need, others ignore it and keep asking me to answer the phone, a real pain because I have to keep reminding them that I have difficulty hearing on the phone.

Next year when I start applying for jobs I will have to disclose my deafness because I will need accommodations in order to successfully carry out my duties as a nurse.

View Poll Results: Should Deafness/HOH Be Mentioned on Resumes?
Yes	10	20.41%
No	29	59.18%
Not Sure/On The Fence	10	20.41%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

07-22-2009, 10:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Loghead Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,378	Should Deafness/HOH Be Mentioned on Resumes? I have always thought that it would not be a wise choice to list my hearing impairment on my resume because I thought that as soon as they were to see it they'd chuck my resume in the garbage and not bother giving me a chance, but if they saw me in person they would realize that the fact that I am hard of hearing would have no effect on my job performance. However, JClarke brought up some good points when he disagreed with my thinking. So I am wondering if maybe part of the reason why I am unable to possess a summer job is due to the fact that I am not owning up to my hearing problem to a possible employer and I am leaving them in the dark, not educating them about something that they have very little knowledge about and maybe that could be a big reason for my current unemployment. So, I am thinking about adding it to my resume. So what about you? Have you put your deafness on your resume? If no, why not? If yes, did you give any explanations or go into detail about it and do you think it helped you get a job because you were open and honest about it? I always thought it was a private matter and the fact that I am HOH was none of their business and that I didn't need to bother telling them because they could possibly use it against me. But now I'm on the fence.

07-22-2009, 10:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
souggy My girlfriend's on drugs Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 7,797	No. I will tell you why. Employers will chuck it into the garbage if they see it on the résumé, and you can't prove to human rights administration if it is discrimination or not. At least during a job interview, you can get a gauge of the employer's bias, and thus act upon it if necessary. I know one of my bosses was grateful that I didn't list my deafness or blindness on my résumé. He hired me because he figured I could handle the job when I explained to him DURING the interview how I could overcome the roadblocks that I may face in the workplace. Hope that help. __________________ "I can't stop from just smiling when that damn sun is shining on; hell, It's just shining down all over me. No, I can't help but just smile while that damn sun is shining on." Souggy'sJunk Goes Here

07-23-2009, 05:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
shygirl1999 Anime Fan Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 219	No, I never put it on my resume or job application ... I never actually thought about it ... because they are supposed to list your positive marks (you want to "sell yourself"; as I was always told) .. unless a question asks you otherwise; which I have yet to come across one that requires me to list HoH. ... I used to work on the phones at a call center and I did just fine on the phones ... and I say I had an advantage because I didn't have to plug up my other ear to hear customers (we were in open call center setting, no wall barriers to help sound, got very noisy). I think having SSD (single-sided-deafness) actually helped me in the workplace __________________ Erika \| Catholic Girl \| Anime Fan \| Pikachu Collector

07-23-2009, 06:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
shel90 In a pink and black world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the land of the free Posts: 29,617 Blog Entries: 3	In my 20 plus experience of applying for jobs and working at least 7 different jobs in my lifetime, I have never once put down my deafness on my resume. It has never crossed my mind. It is not a part of my skill nor experience. __________________ Shel~ "A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

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07-23-2009, 08:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
dogmom Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,287	here's is my experience as someone with LD - including also possible a auditory processing disorder - and new hoh - I personally do not disclose anything til after I get the job. Then I think it is my responsibility to disclose because if my employer and co-workers are going to have a chance of being non-judgemental and willing to work with me <NOT saying that that is automatic, regardless> then they need to know that these things about me as opposed to purely thinking I am not interested in the job, not doing my best etc. Also for safety factor, I am working with other people and in this case now, many dogs, so we all need to <attempt> to work as team and that can't happen if one individual is purposely hiding something that affects interaction and/or standard job performance. Under ADA one is not required to disclose anything unless accommodations are needed for the job interview. This all said, my current supervisor thinks I need to "listen better" and often gets frustrated or angry cuz I miss something for whatever reason <sigh>

07-23-2009, 08:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
Daredevel7 Adrenaline Junky Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,145	I never put it in my resume, because that's just odd. However, I do mention it in a cover letter. I don't elaborate on it, just a simple statement that I am deaf and can't talk on the phone, so I prefer email. For a while, I debated on whether I should mention it or not. I just figured it was easier doing an interview with them having a low expectation of me (but giving me a chance) than them being shocked that I am deaf and making the interview awkward.

07-23-2009, 09:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
naisho Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,732	A resume isn't supposed to be a personal biography, at least not here where I am. They're supposed to be short, concise, one page explanation of your merits and employment experiences and education. A resume is to be used as a standard for all jobs entry level up to around professional/business, then once you are going past that point to a step up for stuff in the graduate field you use a curriculum vitae. In a CV I can see it being worthy of mentioning of your deafness and things associated with it in the interest section or something. But on a resume, around here, no. The followup is in the interview where they communicate with you personally and then you can reveal more about yourself. If you do it on the resume, like someone else mentioned, it's likely going to get overlooked or tossed into the trash along with a condolence letter sent to you. Has to deal with an unproved fact that the majority of planet earth does not understand deafness. If you're sending it to an employer that knows or works with deafness in general, like say Deaf Advocates or a VRS company, then by all means there's no reason to hide it to them since they work in that field and understand it already.

07-23-2009, 09:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
naisho Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,732	I thought about it for a second to why someone would want to mention their deafness on a resume, and saw there are some good reasons as it can promote your ability to stand out and being honest. However where I am from, honesty is overlooked or believed to be nonexistent. Having fully thought it out, it has to really depend on the job you are going for, along with your location in demographics. If it's a job where your deafness will be a huge hindrance or unfeasible to perform the job as capable of as your hearing peers, common sense should tell you not to even apply for the job. Like attempting to be a police officer, FBI agent as deaf/past normal HOH. Or being a lumberjack. Or a specific branch of construction work. Employments like this are where if you don't hear, and your life is in danger, they must know about your deafness yes, but you shouldn't even be applying for it unless you risk the factors involved. I'm not saying "no, you can't do this", if you understand what I'm conveying. More like, "do it at your discretion". Office jobs in the pink/white form (which the majority of us who have replied seem feasible with) are where deafness is not an extremity to be mentioned first up the bat.

07-23-2009, 06:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
Banjo Mr. Movie Guy Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 7,292 Blog Entries: 1	No, it's out of question. I prefer to not disclose anything until the interview.

07-26-2009, 10:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
JennyB Deaf Activist! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,094	I work as a support worker and so often being Deaf can HELP me get a job. I work with a lot of Deaf clients so it is often important that I am Deaf. I always state that I know ASL and English as well as Signed Exact English and Cued Speech depending on the job. __________________ Queer, Deaf, radical disability theorist, feminist, activist, advocate, and linguist. Fear me! Jenny~B http://journysofadeafgirl.blogspot.com/

07-26-2009, 10:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
dogmom Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,287	I do agree that ASL specifically as a skill, like any other skill, is good to put on a resume and can be especially useful for certain positions, as can the cultural connection of "Deaf" be useful for certain positions. I therefore think these are more significant for resume than the ideas of utilizing "deaf" or "hearing loss" only in themselves if those does not relate to specific skill or advantage in the resume.

07-27-2009, 06:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
ASLGAL Here's Your Sign ;-D Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 746	I voted, Not Sure It would depend on a great many things, one of the biggest being "Does the business have a history of discrimiatory behavior toward D/deaf or HOH?" . Is that why they want to know? ~added: I guess I misunderstood. I thought it was to put that you are D/deaf/HOH on your resume but I see that it is should you put ASL as a second language. I agree that ASL should be placed on the resume as an added special skill. __________________ "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" ~ Edmund Burke~ "When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser" ~ Socrates ~ Last edited by ASLGAL; 07-27-2009 at 06:23 PM. Reason: adding my misunderstanding

07-27-2009, 09:11 PM	#16 (permalink)
Bebonang Old Deaf "Militant" Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manitoulin Island on Lake Huron in Canada Posts: 4,094	I put down the vote for not sure and on the fence. Funny thing is I don`t remember if I had put the Deaf or ASL in the resume. I guess I had put my experience on what job I know how to work with. It depend on how the interviewer want to hire me or not. It is hard to find a job and get discriminate because of some kind of disability like deafness, blind or wheelchair bound. The only way is to feel what you want to put the information down for the job only and worry about that later, I think. __________________ I HAVE BEEN DEAF SINCE BIRTH, AND IT IS STILL AWESOME TO BE . (thumb up) (very happy)

07-29-2009, 09:50 PM	#17 (permalink)
sallylou Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: My own private Idaho Posts: 3,483	No. Employers may ask on job applications if you require any accommodations.

07-31-2009, 08:33 AM	#18 (permalink)
omegaman ambient Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Remember what the doorknob said... Posts: 1,307	I vote no. The purpose of a resume is to sell yourself to get an interview, thus a resume should only contain positive things. Yeah, I know people here will say that there is nothing negative about being deafness. But, we should assume that an employer is likely a hearing person whom may not know anything about deafness. You also have to assume that an employer will also receive other resumes, too. So, how will your resume compete against others? Once you reach the interview stage, you will have the opportunity to prove that you are suitable candidate for the job, etc. So, the employer would be able to judge you as a person rather than something written on a piece of paper. __________________

07-31-2009, 08:51 AM	#20 (permalink)
omegaman ambient Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Remember what the doorknob said... Posts: 1,307	It happened to me, too. The employer thought deaf people couldn't speak English. I got the job. __________________

07-31-2009, 09:27 AM	#21 (permalink)
PowerON B-but but but! Never mind Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: umm not in Korea Posts: 7,915 Blog Entries: 5	disability is our business. __________________ • [Illustrator.Blog-alloon.com] • Don't shoot me! I'm only blogger!

07-31-2009, 01:12 PM	#22 (permalink)
TheWriteAlex Hothead Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,769	Under no circumstances would I list my hearing loss in my resume. It's just not the right place to put that type of information. The resume is where you list experience, skills, education, and awards/honors. I would, however, mention it in the cover letter (like Daredevel said) if I felt it could potentially help me get hired, but it really depends on the job and the employer. One thing to keep in mind is that being Deaf/HoH means you are in a minority group, and some employers, particularly government agencies and public universities, will actually give you more consideration because of that. If I were applying to a job where I felt the employer was fair and that my hearing loss would not negatively affect my performance, I would definitely mention in my cover letter that I am HoH. The reason for putting it in the CL is because it gives you the opportunity to educate the employer on how to think about your hearing (rather than letting them fall back on their own biases and misconceptions of deafness). The trick is to be rhetorical and make the employer believe that hiring a deaf/HoH individual will actually benefit their company. One way to do this is to discuss an example where you have gained a special insight by overcoming communication barriers. The more closely you can relate your personal experience to the type of job you will be performing, the better. This shows the employer that you are resourceful and independent and won't be a burden on the company.It also shows that you think in a way that just might in fact be productive for the job you're applying. This is also the case for applying to schools, and I encourage all of you soon-to-be college students to really be candid about your hearing in your entrance essays. When I was applying for undergrad, I didn't mention it, and I didn't get into any of my top choices. When I applied for grad school, I made it the focus of my cover letter, and I ended up getting accepted to my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th picks. Of course, that higher success rate was probably due to a combination of many things (better grades, writing sample, etc.) but it certainly did not hurt to mention that I am HoH.

07-31-2009, 10:00 PM	#23 (permalink)
Jolie77 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kentucky, USA (The Bluegrass State) Posts: 8,182 Blog Entries: 1	I have not once put my deafness on the application/resume but since I graduated from a deaf school, it would be more than an obvious give away to note that I'm deaf. Nevertheless, I have not had a problem with being denied of a job. Like everyone has said, the purpose of a resume/application is to make a statement of yourself, not because of your deafness but because of your qualifications/experience. The more you have it built up, the more chances you may be able to get. The bottom line is - it is about how you are able to relay the information on the paper to make it attractive for any future prospective employers. I'm not saying that it has to be fabricated but it can also be creative with using the right words that are instilled on it. __________________ “Tough girls come from New York. Sweet girls, they're from Georgia. But us Kentucky girls, we have fire and ice in our blood. We can ride horses, be a debutante, throw left hooks, and drink with the boys, all the while making sweet tea, darlin'. And if we have an opinion, you know you're gonna hear it.” - Ashley Judd

11-08-2009, 12:11 PM	#25 (permalink)
badwolf Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 10	I don't mention it on the resume or cover letter. I did mention it once on a cover letter for a job that I was definitely qualified (perhaps even over-qualified) for and the employer never called me or emailed me back, even after I left both a voicemail message and an email asking about the job, he didn't respond. And then I found out a friend of mine with no qualifications got the job. Yeah, I was pissed off. Once I'm hired I always tell my employer. At my current job they don't get it so I spend a fair bit of time re-explaining why talking with a coffee mug in front of one's face is a bad idea. At my other job they're a bit more accommodating and understanding.

11-08-2009, 05:04 PM	#26 (permalink)
Lighthouse77 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,167	I would say no, because they can easily say "I already hired someone before I saw your resume" or "I didn't get your resume"... you can't tell what they do in the private of their own office while going through resumes It is just easy for them to toss your resume in a pile. but once they interview you, they know they can't discriminate you. __________________ Good thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.

11-08-2009, 08:10 PM	#27 (permalink)
whatdidyousay! Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,624	I had job at GE when I was younger and I had to have a hearing test!! The woman that was giving me the test kept telling to raise my hand when I heard a sound ! I told her I had the test before and that I am not hearing the sounds!! I got the job as I knew the vice president of GE ! I did not pass my hearing test!! I would not put that on a resumes , I would go to job interview and see how it goes . If you think you were turn down for being HOH I would call a lawyer or some center for deaf and HOH people.

11-08-2009, 09:13 PM	#28 (permalink)
CJB caecilius circumspect Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: U.S. Posts: 2,762	No, unless you don't want to get hired. Ditto with any other disability. It's just a fact of life that people view disabilities as less than.

11-08-2009, 10:46 PM	#29 (permalink)
Cheri Prayers for my dad. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 22,819	I voted no, I don't put down that I'm deaf on my resume or job application because I want them to give a deaf person the same chance as a hearing person when they call back for a face to face interview, If I did put deaf on my resume or job application then it's a possibility that they will dump my resume or job application in the reject pile. There are many employers who are not so ready to give a first chance to any deaf or hard of hearing people who can do the task on the job. They got their head full of negatives, thinks the worst of deaf people and they are doing this by their ignorance plain and simple. If you show them what you are made of, they might give you a chance on the spot. __________________ Avoid being a victim of a stroke, a stroke can happen to anyone at anytime. You will never know how devastating this could be until you had live through it. It affects everybody. So Support Stroke Awareness to find a cure and hope.

11-10-2009, 04:14 PM	#30 (permalink)
djchur Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: UK Posts: 268	I think it depends on the job you are applying for. I am training to be a mental health nurse and as a nurse you are accountable for your actions and have to practice safely. When I go on work placements I have to tell my supervisors about my hearing loss, my university have told me I have an obligation to do so. Reactions to my disclosure vary, some people get quite excited and ask me what sort of accommodations I need, others ignore it and keep asking me to answer the phone, a real pain because I have to keep reminding them that I have difficulty hearing on the phone. Next year when I start applying for jobs I will have to disclose my deafness because I will need accommodations in order to successfully carry out my duties as a nurse.

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