BLIND IN BUSINESS - PARENTS WORKSHOP VIDEO SERIES

When Blind in Business hosted a Parents Workshop in December 2012, it was filmed in order to make sure those who couldn't attend the event, were able to benefit from our role models' insight as young visually impaired people.

Our five candidates talked about education, disclosure, technology, and coping with social situations and confidence.

THE ROLE MODELS

Matt Pougher is an Account Manager for Ovum, a technology company and studied in Southampton.
Michael Smith is in his final year at King's University studying Human Geography and is also a member of the Blind Football Great British Team.
Gillian Bramley is a Higher Scientific Officer at Food Standard Agency and studied Nutrition and Public Health at Oxford Brookes University.
Ian Ketterinham is on the Met Police Graduate IT Scheme and gained a MSc Environmental Management at Liverpool Hope University.
Ghazi AbuYounis is in his final year at City University studying Law will go on to study for his LPC this September.


If you would like more information about Blind in Business please visit our website: www.blindinbusiness.co.uk or email info@blindinbusiness.org.uk

More stories from the Blind in Business candidates.

CHRIS WALLER

I first came into contact with Blind in Business in July 2012. I had just graduated from university but despite studying for four years, I still had no clue what I wanted to do with my life. I received an e-mail from my university telling me about the annual Education to Employment event BIB were hosting in Surrey and this seemed like a good opportunity to gain some idea of the options available to me. 

I didn’t have very high expectations of the event. I assumed it would all be very patronising – a weekend full of people telling me how I could be an astronaut or an airline pilot if I really wanted, all I had to do was be positive. As such, it was a very pleasant surprise when I arrived and I found that the event was being run by very driven and knowledgeable people who had a lot of time for those who were focused and dedicated, but absolutely no time for those who blamed all their failures and problems on their disability. So it was with that, my experience with BIB begun. 

After the incredibly insightful and enjoyable event in Surrey had ended ,I quickly learnt that the help and advice they were willing to offer had barely been realised. There were months and months of regular trips to their office in London in which they would dedicate hours to finding me suitable jobs. They arranged interviews and meetings with people who I would never have been able to speak to otherwise. I had a tour of the PwC London office and a mock interview with someone who had experience interviewing at Ernst and Young, and this was all completely free. I haven’t been in contact with BIB for very long, but in such a short time they have not only shown me the wealth of opportunities that are available to me, but also made it crystal clear that whatever problems I have with my sight, it would not prevent me finding the career I really want.

 GHAZI ABUYOUNIS

I am currently in my last year completing my undergraduate Law LLB degree at City University London. I have white hair, a very fair complexion, colourless grey eyes, and a dependency on reading aids by the age of ten.

Coming from a different region of the world to study in the UK was a major step my parents and I decided to take. At first, I had mixed feelings as to whether I’ll cope with living on my own for the first time, in a country which I had previously visited during the summer holidays but never resided in.

I consider myself lucky to be visually impaired in a time-period where technological innovations are on the rise, making our lives easier. I can’t illustrate how dependant I am on technology to fulfil varying aspects of life such as travelling throughout London, reading course material, or to flip through the pages of City A.M. every morning on the train. Life just keeps getting better.

I knew about Blind in Business’s services through my University Student Support Centre. I attended a law event in May 2011, and in February of this year, I got back in contact. I spent 6 weeks during the summer at their offices, to submit Training Contract applications, and just can’t describe the impact the charity had on my life. I no longer think of my disability as an obstacle, but see it as an opportunity to inspire others who may or may not have a similar condition to mine. Their welcoming community allowed me to know other candidates on a personal level. There is nothing better than sharing your experiences with others who know exactly what you go through, because they too go through it, but in a different way. It was remarkable to realise that as BIB candidates, we share one thing in common, but yet we are so different from one another. The charity does an excellent job in making us competitive: shaping-up our CVs and job applications to make them as good, if not better, than other applicants. Today, competition for jobs is at its toughest levels, and the charity ensures we don’t get caught out in the process.

Blind in Business boosted my confidence by showing me what other visually impaired persons have done; thus proving to me that having low vision does not stop one from achieving. One of my own achievements this year was receiving the Recorder of London Award for the Best Law Student. Thus aside being told of the achievements of others, Blind in Business now use my achievement as a mean to inspire candidates. Operating within this two-way process encourages us to work harder to further carve our recognition within society.

New job postings

Justin Harrison, one of the Employment Advisors at Blind in Business has put together a list of job openings. Theres a nice variety of positions to choose from.

Good luck with your applications and remember Blind in Business are here to help in any way we can :)

http://www.lr.org/careers/graduates/

http://www.imperial-tobacco.com/index.asp?page=526

http://www.bewiser.co.uk/carins/AXA/?referrer=bgg116&gclid=CLHvjpPPy7MCFW3MtAoda10Acgb

www.google.com/students/step

www.sightsavers.org/about_us/vacancies

http://applications.phoenixgroupcareers.co.uk/pages/job_search_view.aspx?jobId=1314&JobIndex=6&categoryList=&workingPatternList=&keywords=&location=-1&PageIndex=1&Number=7

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9617091/Apprentice-James-Bonds-to-be-taken-on-by-spy-agencies.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9662061/Microsoft-to-create-300000-training-and-work-placements.html

EVENTS AT BLIND IN BUSINESS

 

At Blind in Business, we have lots of exciting events coming up that are free to candidates and open for registration. Some are focused on employment, some are for parents, some involve accessible technology and some are a great to meet other candidates and enjoy a drink J

Speed Recruitment is a one day event which allows undergraduate and graduate candidates to partake in a Speed Dating style set of interviews with various employers. Each candidate gets 10 minutes to not only be interviewed but to ask the employer questions themselves. The next Speed Recruitment events are in Glasgow and London (please see below for details.)

Education 2 Employment is an annual residential event, where 20 undergraduate and graduate candidates are selected to attend. The first day consists of workshops and a networking lunch followed by 2 mock interviews with 20 different employers. The second day, the candidates are taken water skiing to put them out of their comfort zone and ultimately boost their confidence.

Places are now open for E2E 2013 for the 24th -26th July so if you are interested in coming along or you want to find out more than email Justin@blindinbusiness.org.uk

The Parent’s Workshop is hosted by Dan Mitchell who invites a variety of different role models to speak to parents or young people with visual impairments. From lawyers, to graduates, people who have been travelling and other visually impaired people in employment, they all share their stories and help reassure parents and young people that there are still plenty of opportunities and careers for them to fulfil regardless of their visual impairment.

The next Parents Workshop is on Tuesday 11^th December 2012 at the Blind in Business offices in London. It is free. To register your attendance or for more information please email dan@blindinbusiness.org.uk

Alongside our employment events we are also hosting Technology Clinics with Sight and Sound Technology. These are tailored towards Parents, those in Education, one for Employers and those who are in employment. Staff from Sight and Sound Technology will be demonstrating how accessible technology can be and the difference it will make in the workplace, school and the home.

If you would like to come along and try out different technology or more information on the clinics, please email media@blindinbusiness.org.uk

These are just a sample of the various events we hold. You can find out more information on our website, www.blindinbusiness.org.uk or you can call 0207 588 1885 and a member of staff will be happy to tell you about upcoming events.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

NETWORKING EVENT FOR YOUNG VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE

WEDNESDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2012, 12 – 3PM, BLIND IN BUSINESS OFFICE, LONDON

SPEED RECRUITMENT SCOTLAND

WEDNESDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 2012, 12 – 3PM, ERNST AND YOUNG, GLASGOW

PARENTS WORKSHOP

TUESDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2012, 5:30 – 7PM, BLIND IN BUSINESS OFFICE, LONDON

CHRISTMAS SOCIAL

TUESDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2012, 7:30PM – LATE, THE SHOOTING STAR, LONDON

PARENTS TECHNOLOGY CLINIC WITH SIGHT AND SOUND TECHNOLOGY

TUESDAY 22ND JANUARY 2013, 5:30 – 7PM, BLIND IN BUSINESS OFFICE, LONDON

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CLINIC WITH SIGHT AND SOUND TECHNOLOGY

FRIDAY 15TH MARCH 2013, 4 – 6PM, BLIND IN BUSINESS OFFICE, LONDON

BLIND IN BUSINESS LAW DAY

FRIDAY 22ND MARCH 2013, 4 – 6PM. BLIND IN BUSINESS OFFICE, LONDON

EMPLOYMENT TECHNOLOGY CLINIC WITH SIGHT AND SOUND TECHNOLOGY

WEDNESDAY 15TH MAY 2013, 4 - 6PM, BLIND IN BUSINESS OFFICE, LONDON

 

EDUCATION 2 EMPLOYMENT RESIDENTIAL

24TH - 26TH JULY 2013, ENGLAND, UK

 

The Two Tick Scheme

The Two Tick symbol is awarded to employers to use on job adverts and application forms to show that they are committed to employing disabled people. It also guarentees an interview if you meet the basic conditions for the position.



To find out more, check out the links below or google the Two Tick or Positive About Disabled People scheme to find employers who are involved.

https://www.gov.uk/looking-for-work-if-youre-disabled/looking-for-a-job

https://www.gov.uk/looking-for-work-if-youre-disabled/applying-for-a-job

The Value of Work Experience

Everyone has experienced the disheartening feeling of receiving an application rejection letter. Or even the absence of any recognition of what feels like the 3 gazillion CVs and applications you have sent.

When it comes to attracting an employer’s attention or getting them to spend that little longer reading your CV, it is all about standing out.

A recent study using eye tracking technology has highlighted that an employer will spend as little as 6 seconds reading your CV.

One way to turn those 6 seconds into 16 seconds is work experience. As more and more people go to university and get degrees, work experience is becoming a more valuable asset when applying for a job. Employers see it as an example of your dedication to find employment by taking the time to gain new skills, whether paid or non-paid. However, most work experience placements or internships are unpaid.

When I graduated, after spending most of my time at the university student radio station, I knew that I wanted my career to involve radio in some way. However I couldn’t afford to go to college or do a postgrad radio course, so the only other way was to get some work experience.

I had already been pestering my local radio stations for years about getting work experience, so I decided to take my chances and cut out the middle man. I e-mailed the Managing Director of Original 106 FM in Aberdeen and the next thing I know the Station Manager, Neil Weightman, had phoned and invited me to the station. I spent the next 9 months learning all the tricks of the trade, how to use industry software and assisting in all tasks contributing to the daily running of a station. Everyone at the station was brilliant and made sure I gained the skills I needed to learn and I made lots of industry contacts.

A Blind in Business candidate, Kevin Satizabal, graduated from Birmingham University with a degree in music earlier this year. Like most graduates, he has been struggling to find employment. He is interested in marketing and decided to apply for a volunteer position at The Royal London Society for Blind People .

“I wanted to build on my marketing skills and gain practical work experience in order to enhance my CV. More importantly it shows employers that I am willing to work and more than capable of doing so, despite being visually impaired. I have also learned lots about marketing and working for Action Blind has made me want to have a career in marketing more than ever.”

At Blind in Business, our employment advisors can help you find work experience and make sure you get the most out of it. Whether it is to find out if banking is for you, or to add to your CV for a journalism post. Email Robin Spruell (robin@blindinbusiness.org.uk) or Justin Harrison (Justin@blindinbusiness.org.uk) who can help you find a placement, wherever you are in the UK.

Spend a week at your local community radio station, help out at a youth group, organise events for a charity or an internship at a top insurance company. Work experience is a great way to increase your chances of employment and show them that even though you are visually impaired, you are just as employable as anyone else.

Samantha Little