Job hunting for students with learning or health issues

The information on this page is specifically intended for students with specific learning difficulties, health difficulties or disabilities and may be of additional help in the job hunting process. For general information on job hunting aimed at all students please look at the job hunting section of this website.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has changed the environment for disabled job seekers and there are clear legal requirements and guidelines which employers must obey. The Government's website explains the main provisions of the Act as they affect people with disabilities and where you can get further advice and information (www.disability.gov.uk).

Getting a Job

Skill - The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities (www.skill.org.uk) has a selection of information sheets in the information section including Careers and Work for Disabled People.

Shaw Trust (www.shaw-trust.org.uk) is a national charity that supports people with disabilities through job preparation, job finding, job support, job retention and job creation.

Blind in Business (www.blindinbusiness.org.uk) help visually impaired people into graduate jobs, through CV coaching and general advice and support

General advice on job hunting

Hobsons has a section with advice for students with disabilities which contains information on career planning, job hunting and applying for jobs (www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/equality) (reference copies available). 

The Prospects website has information in the 'Handling Discrimination' section (www.prospects.ac.uk/links/58)

Vacancy websites

Disability Now (www.disabilitynow.org.uk) is a magazine with recruitment advertisements for people with disabilities. It is published both on the Internet and in magazine format.

Diversity Milkround: the graduate employment site aimed at breaking down barriers (http://diversity.milkround.com)

Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities (www.eopps.org.uk) runs summer internship programmes

Using Recruitment Agencies

Visit our section on recruitment agencies for general information about using these agencies.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (www.rec.uk.com) is the trade association for employment agencies. Members must conform to the REC Code of Good Recruitment Practice. Disabled job seekers may, therefore, find it beneficial to use this service, particularly as part of the code states that members will ensure that staff comply with the provisions relating to equal opportunities.

PosAbility was launched in 2000 and was the first commercial recruitment company for people with disabilities (www.posability.net)

The Skill website has a selection of information sheets in the Information section: Using Recruitment Agencies as a Disabled Jobseeker.

Getting help and advice

If you would like to discuss how these issues may impact on your job hunting, please contact Careers to make an appointment with a Careers Adviser.

>>Further information for students with health/learning issues