Job seeking – British Sign Language Guide

Published: Monday 21 October 2024 | No Comments

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This resource is kindly funded by Churchill Fellow

This short video for deaf jobseekers explains how to look for a job, including: 

-How to prepare 

-What documents you need 

-How to look for a job 

-Sources for finding jobs 

-Recruiters 

-Other methods for finding jobs 

 

How to prepare 

Before you start looking for a job it is useful to have some ideas about what you want from your job. For example: 

• Is there a particular area or industry you want to work in?  

• Think about the skills you have and what type of work they might be suitable for. 

• Think about things you enjoy – can you work in a related industry? Or transfer those skills to something new? 

• How many hours are you looking to work? e.g. full-time (35-40 hours a week) or part time? 

• Are you looking for permanent or temporary work? 

Once you have this information, you are ready to start your search.  

How to look for a job 

Have your documents ready 

For almost all jobs you will need a CV, a cover letter and references. You may find it useful to prepare these in advance, so you are ready to send them once you find some available jobs. 

CV 

Make sure your CV is up to date. If you haven’t created a CV yet, or you would like to improve yours, then watch our ‘CV writing’ video. 

Cover letter 

It can be useful to have a template cover letter, which you can then adapt for each job you apply for. If you want tips on writing covering letters, then watch our ‘covering letters’ video. 

References 

Employers ask for references to find out if you are reliable and you can do the job. A ‘professional’ reference is someone who knows your skills and achievements. This could be someone from a previous job, but it could also be: 

• Teachers, tutors or instructors 

• Work experience managers 

• Volunteer managers 

• People in your community 

• Mentors 

Think about who might be able to provide a reference for you, and ask them if they would be happy to do so. This means that when you interview or are offered a role, they will be ready to respond to a reference request.

Planning your search 

It is worth treating finding a job with the same dedication and respect you have for employment. Set aside a few hours a day to looking for work. Consider setting yourself some goals to keep you on track. For example, you might aim to apply for a certain number of jobs per week. 

Where to look 

Most jobs adverts are public and are found on job websites. Job websites are updated regularly, and different employers list on different sites. This means it is worth checking a few different sites regularly. 

Some of the current biggest job websites in the UK are: 

• Charityjob.co.uk – for charity sector jobs 

• CW Jobs – for specialist IT jobs 

• Flexible Works – for flexible working jobs 

• Guardian Jobs 

• Indeed 

• Jobs.ac.uk – for academic jobs 

• Jobsite 

• Monster 

• Reed 

• Total Jobs 

• Vercida – career site helping individuals find work with inclusive employers 

You could also consider working in the public sector – for example, with your local library, council, school or hospital. You can find details of jobs on your local council’s website. 

Deaf Unity also have a jobs board on our website. This is a deaf-specific jobs board where employers who want to hire a deaf person can advertise roles. 

Disability-friendly employers 

Some employers display a Disability Confident logo on their website. They are positive about the benefits of employing people with disabilities. 

You can look out for the Disability Confident symbol on job ads, or try the following disabled jobs sites: 

• Careers with Disabilities – UK disability-friendly jobs board and accessible careers resource. 

• Disability jobsite – supports disabled people on the pathway to work. 

• Disabled Workers – a registered charity that supports disabled people looking for work. 

• Evenbreak – matches disabled jobseekers with suitable employers. 

• Jobs4 Disability – works with employers who are making workplaces more inclusive. 

• Deaf Unity jobs board – deaf-friendly jobs board 

Recruiters 

Recruitment agencies match people looking for jobs with employers looking to hire. Some recruiters specialise in certain sectors e.g. IT, and some specialise in local area. They can help you find roles that are suitable for your experience. However, be aware that they may not have as much knowledge or understanding of disability at work.  

Other methods of finding work 

You can follow companies you like on social media, or keep an eye on their company website for new job listings.  

You can also find out about jobs via LinkedIn – a professional networking site. On LinkedIn you can host an online CV and find out more about other professionals. You can also search and apply for jobs. 

Support for the job-seeking process 

You are entitled to support for job-seeking via the government’s Access to Work scheme. If you would like to know more about this, please see our Access to Work for job seekers video. 

We hope this has been a useful resource to help you start your job search. Good luck!