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Trials and Tribulations

  • May. 25th, 2006 at 12:05 PM
myself
paleshadow
When the posting says, "preference will be given to candidates with a disability", it's probably a good idea to mention your disability in the cover letter. I just couldn't make myself do it.

I figure if my merits won't get me an interview, then the fact that I'm a cripple shouldn't matter. I wonder, though, if that's just more rationalisation for the fanatical aversion I have for getting undeserved special treatment as a result of my condition.

Potato, po-tah-toe.

-D.
  • Feeling: thoughtful thoughtful
  • Listening:Bif Naked - The World Is Over (Superbeautifulmonster)

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(Deleted comment)
bob13
May. 26th, 2006 04:02 am (UTC)
Harumph
My opinion (ymmv) is that such postings are craptacular pieces of crap. Some Kumbaya-singing HR manager or WASP manager woke up that morning and went "Gee, look, everyone who works here is white and male, we really should get SOME pretense of diversity here". And being the token //anything// is crap. The only occassion I have ever, ever seen that would justify such blatant discrimination, is jobs where you're dealing with kids in the same boat as you, or other occasions where you'd need to strongly relate to the people you interact wtih. Otherwise, it's just some pathetic excuse to pretend to "embrace diversity" or such crap.

I fully agree with (my perception of) your position... if you're going to hire me, hire me because of my qualifications, not because I'm somehow different in a way that doesn't affect the freaking job in any way.

[yes, I am bitter... I've seen too much sillyness about such things, including me being able to apply for a job because my needed glasses qualified as enough of a "disability"... and getting to apply for another job because of my 1/8 Native side, only to not make it because I "wasn't minority enough" and have a more minority, less qualified candidate succeed. But yeah, yay for affirmative action.]
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paleshadow
May. 26th, 2006 04:17 am (UTC)
Re: Harumph
The position is as a research assistant for the Western Canadian Centre for the Study of Deafness, so there's at least _some_ evidence for someone with a disability of any sort being in a better position to do the work, at least from the perspective of empathy/sympathy.

That said, I mostly raise that idea out of devil's advocacy. If they said "preference given to deaf candidates" (which they didn't say) or "preference given to people who know or are willing to learn ASL" (which they _did_ say), I'd agree wholeheartedly, but otherwise...yeah, Kumbaya.

-D.
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blake_is_gay
May. 27th, 2006 01:59 pm (UTC)
Re: Harumph
I'm a total advocate for Affirmative action...hiring practices are innately discriminatory. A conscious effort needs to be made to hire individuals outside of the whotge male category.
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blake_is_gay
May. 27th, 2006 02:00 pm (UTC)
Re: Harumph
whotge? I don't even know what I was tryoing to say here! lol
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blake_is_gay
May. 27th, 2006 02:02 pm (UTC)
Re: Harumph
Oh, WHITE is what I was trying to type there. I will stop with the comments now. heh.
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paleshadow
May. 27th, 2006 07:24 pm (UTC)
Re: Harumph
That's your prerogative. I do agree that a more diverse workplace is a good thing.

However, as a black, disabled male with some measure of self-worth, I know that I'd hate to know I got a job not because I was qualified for it, but because of stuff I have no control over. I get enough pity in the rest of my life.

-D.
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blake_is_gay
May. 31st, 2006 05:39 pm (UTC)
Re: Harumph
It isn't pity though.

We are cognitively biased to choose white males for say, business positions, they fit the archetype of a business-man that we've created over the years. A conscious effort needs to remind employers that our cognitive process of hiring is racism, sexist, and heterosexist. If you are illiterate and uneducated than of course you don't get the fricking job! lol
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