Job Hunting Tips for the So-Called Handicapped: Or People Who Have Disabilities [Paperback]

Richard N. Bolles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1991

A sensitively written job hunting manual for the disabled offers practical advice on how and where to find a job; explains the reasons behind employers' reactions to disabled persons; and provides useful tools for challenging stereotypes. Original.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

DALE S. BROWN is the author of four books related to the careers of people with disabilities, including Learning A Living. She was active in the development of Americans with Disabilities Act, and won several awards as a result of her work. She lives in Washington D.C.


RICHARD NELSON BOLLES is the best-selling author of WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE? and has been a leader in the career development field for more than 35 years. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (December 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898154715
• ISBN-13: 978-0898154719
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,129,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

RICHARD N. BOLLES has been a leader in the career development field for more than thirty-five years. He was trained in chemical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and holds a bachelor's degree cum laude in physics from Harvard University and a master's in sacred theology from General Theological (Episcopal) Seminary in New York City. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Marci.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for job-hunters with special needs., November 25, 2001

By 

Carol Watkins "Psychiatrist" (Parkton, Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities (Paperback)

This is a great book for the individual with a disability who is thinking about getting off public assistance or who is just planning to switch jobs. This would also be a good book for any employer who might hire an individual with a disability.

Often both employers and prospective employees have misconceptions about what the law says about disabilitiy. The book explains how the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) protects individuals with disabilities. At the same time, it also explains what the ADA will not do.

I particularly liked the section on creative ways to interview for a job. Having a disability may make one seem strange and unfamiliar to a prospective employer. The book suggests creative ways to emphasize how one is also similar to the employer. Even if you do not have a disability, you may still want to read some of these clever suggestions.

It is often difficult to get disability benefits in the first place. This makes returning to work seem a risky proposition: What if you try to go to work and you are really not ready. If you fail, will you lose your disability benefits and have to start all over again? The book explains ways to protect some degree of benefits while easing back into the work force.

The two authors blend their areas of expertise to produce an outstanding book. The book is divided into sections with clear explanations and objectives. In the back of the book there are useful appendices with resources for further help and support.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully user-friendly resource!, November 16, 2001

By 

Wilma Fellman "Career & Life Planning Counsel... (Bloomfield Hills, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities (Paperback)

Richard Bolles & Dale Brown have given us a delightful book for individuals with special needs. Job hunting for this population is a frightening arena, filled with feelings of inadequacy and doubts about how to stress the positives. In Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped, the authors have provided 6 well-designed chapters that deal with (1) background information--A Short Course on Disabilities for Those of Us Who Do Not (Yet) Have a Disability; (2) the law: (ADA) Americans with Disabilities Act: What it can do--and what it cannot do; (3) the in's and out's of Job-Hunting and People with Disabilities; (4) the Fears an Employer Has When Inteviewing People with Disabilities and How You Can Persuade Them That You Are Qualified; (5) Overcoming Your Own Fears And Avoiding Self-Sabotage; and (6) Eight Reasons for Hope That Are Important To Those Of Us With Disabilities (As well As To Our Would-Be Employers, Counselors, Friends and Families).

In addition, we are given 3 appendices that include a wealth of information on Handling Special Situations, Organizations and Resources, and a List of Written Resources.

I especially appreciate seeing a "p.s. to Employers" at the very end of the book. It is a warm and honest appeal to an employer to be aware, sensitive, and wise when working with a person with special needs. They explore the need to find the delicate balance between caring and knowing how to treat such individuals as "normal." It's a rare opportunity to reach the "other side of the desk," and I believe that Bolles and Brown demonstrated pure genius to think of including that!

For many individuals with disabilities, ONE MORE BOOK given to them prior to the job hunt can be an overload. But, presenting them with this delightful and informative gift can make the difference between feeling hopeful--leading to success, or feeling defeated. This is a wonderful treasure!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book, April 13, 2003

By 

Michael Burks (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Job-Hunting for the So-Called Handicapped or People Who Have Disabilities (Paperback)

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Written by Dale Susan Brown and Richard Nelson Bolles(Author of What Color is Your Parachute), it is a simple and concise guide to finding a job if you have a disability. It pulls no punches and tells it the way it is.
It gives simple, concise advice on how to conduct a job search, and what to do in an interview. It tells you how keep a prospective employer from getting nervous about your disability, and how to communicate in an interview in an honest and positive way.
If you are person with a disability this is a terrific book, if you have a co-worker with a disability, it is a terrific book, if you have people working for you with disabilities it is a terrific book, and if you are a "normal" person (whatever that is...} it is a terrific book.
The advice in the book leverages the expertise of both authors and is sound and easy to understand. It also helps you to do a better job, once you have employment. The book is highly recommended for everyone!