Interviews are a crucial step in determining whether potential job candidates are a good fit for your organization and work culture.
Both employers and job-seekers alike use the interview stage in the recruitment process to determine shared values. Many job seekers with disabilities will use interviews to determine workplace attitudes and behaviours towards accessibility, which is why it's important for employers committed to the workforce inclusion of people with disabilities to ensure potential job candidates are able to access interviews in a way that works for their diverse abilities.
Our founding Inclusive Workforce Specialist, Jamie Millar-Dixon, shares her top inclusive interview adjustments for ensuring your interviews are accessible for your candidates.
Accessible Interview Adjustments include but are not limited to:
Book an ASL Interpreter in advance for people who are deaf.
Use straightforward interview questions for people who are neurodivergent; behaviour-based questions are too abstract.
Be ready to send interview questions and tasks in an email or document before the interview.
Have different document formats available, like braille and audio versions.
Ensure your interview spaces and entrances are wheelchair accessible.
Allow for remote interviews and enable closed captioning for people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Hold interviews in a private, quieter space to remove distractions.
If using online psychometric testing, know these present a barrier to people who are neurodivergent.
Download our Accessible Interview Adjustments Tip Sheet.
We've compiled our top Accessible Interview Adjustment tips into a shareable pdf for you to download and use where you see fit.
Looking for more detailed information on workplace adjustments?
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on job accommodations and disability employment issues. Serving customers across the United States and around the world for more than 35 years, JAN provides free practical guidance and technical assistance on job accommodation solutions, and self-employment and entrepreneurship options for people with disabilities.
Do you want to be a more inclusive and accessible employer?
Take this 15-minute Disability Inclusive Employer Self-Assessment to gain a deeper understanding of where you’re doing well and where there’s room to improve.
Open Door Group and Presidents Group collaborated on this tool, created from recent international research on practices that truly increase inclusion and retention of people with disabilities in the workplace.