Blind in Business challenges barriers to the recruitment process

Twenty visually impaired graduates will attend a two-day event to help them build confidence and make more successful applications for jobs in professional careers.



The event, organised for the fourth time by the charity Blind in Business and supported for the second year running by SHL, world leader in objective assessment, will take place at SHLís Woodstock House in Long Ditton, Surrey on the 18th and 19th of August. As well as hands on practice sessions and seminars, all the participants will have the opportunity to water-ski as a fun and confidence-building activity.

The graduates will receive advice and support on all stages of the recruitment process, including how to complete application forms and how to be successful in job interviews. Recruiters from twenty renowned
organisations: Citigroup, DSTL, BDO Stoy Hayward, Morgan Stanley, Herbert Smith, CMS Cameron McKenna, CSSB, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, Allen & Overy, TMP Worldwide, Logica CMG, GCHQ, KPMG, JP Morgan and Accenture, will attend the event to learn more about employing individuals with visual impairments, and to engage in practice interviews with the graduates.

The ímockí interviews benefit the graduates, who have the chance to meet recruiters and receive feedback from them afterwards and the recruiters, who will be able to put best practice into action and receive feed back from the candidates.

As part of the process, the graduates will take psychometric assessments, provided by SHL. As part of its commitment to providing fair assessment to those with disabilities, SHL offers a range of its psychometric instruments in Braille and other versions suitable for blind and partially sighted job-seekers.

The Blind in Business event will be completed with a technology exhibition, so that employers and potential employees can be updated on the latest technology that can assist them in the workplace.

Eleanor Southwood, who attended last yearís event and is now working for Neil Stewart Associates as a Research Officer, commented: I really started being more confident about myself after gaining all that practice in job interviews and applications. It was also great seeing other people with the same difficulties doing the same as me. I started thinking that if they could do it, I could do it as well.

Over half of those that attended last year have already found full-time employment thanks to the skills they perfected at the event. The rest either returned to full time education or are undertaking work placements.

The training course is the central motivational point for our candidates who learn about looking for work and share their experiences with other visually impaired graduates, said Clare Young, Employment Manager at Blind in Business. Even with the DDA and diversity policy many employers lack practical experience in dealing with visually impaired people. These two days develop both skills and confidence for both employers and candidates.