Addressing a disability during a job search

Dear Sam: I need your advice. I have to change career direction in my mid-forties due to a debilitating medical condition that has me on disability from my former line of work. I have always held positions laboring with my hands, such as machinist, tool and die, auto assembly, etc. Now, I have been on disability from my job as an automotive assembler for over a year. I am currently completing my educational goals to better enable me to change careers. I am attending university with a goal of earning a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting within the next year. I am just finishing my fourth accounting class, and have a 3.75 GPA, so I am doing quite well. If and when I land a position in accounting or a related field, I should be able to work full-time, thus getting off disability income. I just cannot do those labor-type jobs and am fully ready to rely on my other skills to achieve my new career goals.

How do I address these issues and what suggestions do you have for preparing the résumé and cover letter? I want to be honest, of course, but yet do not want the fact that I am on disability from my usual kind of work to be a hindrance to me. Thank you in advance for helping me. I read your column in the Columbus Dispatch regularly. – Jim in Columbus

Dear Jim: It is fantastic that you took charge of your future and proceeded with a strategy to position you for the next stage in your career. Now for a strategy to present this on paper to a prospective employer!

Begin your résumé with a qualifications summary presenting yourself as an upcoming graduate and focusing on the knowledge you have gained through your coursework and projects. Additionally, identify the skills you developed during your previous career that enhance your candidacy for what you now want to do and also present them within this summary. These could be items such as demonstrating the ability to excel in fast-paced and high-volume environments, solid organizational and multi-tasking skills, or even driving the achievement of productivity goals. Be sure to include your computer skills so the hiring manager knows that you possess the technical knowledge required in an office environment.

Next, as you are an upcoming graduate present your educational qualifications. Even though you have 20 years of experience it is important to order the sections on your résumé with those that enhance your candidacy listed first. In this section you can list your coursework, pull out notable projects you led or participated in, and definitely list your grade point average as it is above a 3.5.

In the professional experience section present your background, highlighting any notable accomplishments, and possibly combining like positions to reduce redundancy. Try to relate what you did to what you now want to do by focusing less on the tasks you performed and more on the skills you demonstrated.

There is no need to mention the reason you left your last employer in either your résumé or cover letter. Being that you are in school the hiring manager will likely assume that you left to pursue your education full-time, leaving it up to you as to whether you wish to discuss your time on disability during an interview. Be aware that if you do present this information, the hiring manager may be concerned about your ability to perform a job due to a chronic ailment leading to excessive time off work. If you do divulge this information be sure to put a positive spin on the opportunity it afforded you to return to school to pursue a career in a field that captures your interest and passion.