How will my wheelchair affect my job applications?

Our resident career doctor is here to study your problems and research the best advice for you by consulting a vast army of experts.

Here, the career doctor advises a wheelchair user on their interview expectations.

Dear J,

Thanks for writing to me. The short answer is that you shouldn't have to pursue any 'tactics' as such, because all good employers should be aware of the employment provisions of the 1996 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and the existence of the Disability Rights Commission. There is a requirement for employers to make 'reasonable adjustments' to a role and to the workplace to accommodate the needs of workers with disabilities.

I did, however, discuss your situation with a specialist organisation, the Employers' Forum on Disability (EFD), and with insurance giant CIS, one of the UK's leading employers, which prides itself on its handling of diversity.

The EFD works with employers to build the business case for employing the nine million disabled people in the UK and to further their career prospects.

EFD chief executive, Susan Scott-Parker, says that it's wise to anticipate the content of job interviews: 'Always be prepared to face some embarrassment (on the part of the interviewer) about the open discussion of someone's disability', she says. 'Remember that disability-aware employers will be asking themselves two key questions: does this person have the competencies to do the job and could this person do the job if I, the employer were prepared to be flexible and make adjustments?'

However, there is no point in being aggressive. 'Taking a combative attitude and demanding your rights will almost certainly be counterproductive', she says. 'Like any other graduate, you need to focus on what's in it for the employer if they decide to hire you'. Just like every other jobseeker, you need to focus on your skills.

CIS human resource development manager, Patricia Ashworth, agrees: 'Be professional from the outset', she says. Ashworth has had plenty of experience in getting disabled people into work through running CIS' Work Preparation Programme, which focuses on improving confidence and interview skills.

Her top tip is to research the organisation and the job you are being interviewed for and prepare accordingly. If you do your research, you'll find that knowing what the employer wants makes you feel in control of the interview, which in turn helps you feel more confident and less self-conscious.

You could discuss wheelchair access and the practicalities of getting there before you set off for the interview, just as any applicant would phone beforehand to check directions or car parking, but don't make continual reference to these points throughout the interview - use your time to impress them with what you know.

However, there are some organisations, like CIS, which like to be upfront about giving disabled people a fair chance and which you might find are more receptive to your initial application.

• These organisations display the 'two ticks' symbol, an award for companies which actively recruit disabled jobseekers.
• They are often members of the EFD.
• They are often in the public sector - which is very up to date in areas of best practice.
• They like to show how amenable they are by offering devices such as application forms in alternative formats.

Finally, I think you should be confident. Your disability has not prevented you from pursuing your degree. Don't forget, being invited to interview means that there is something about you that interests the employer, so the window of opportunity is already half open.

You can find out more on the Disability Rights Commission web site and the EFD.

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Good luck!

Career doctor