Hire for Talent

How to interact with people with mental illness during a job interview:

Etiquette

• Be mindful of language- Avoid using the term “crazy” or saying things like “I am so stressed out, I am going to kill myself."
• Use "person-first" language- Example: Say “a person with schizophrenia” instead of “a schizophrenic person.”
• People with mental illness may have additional disabilities, such as physical mobility, learning disabilities, etc.
• Otherwise, there are no other specific accommodations regarding communication.

Hiring Process and Selection

• If candidates disclose during an interview that they have a mental illness, acceptance is important. Ask them what type of accommodations they may need to be successful in their work, and thank them for being honest and brave in disclosing.
• Individuals with mental health challenges may have gaps in their work history and may not have sequential educational histories.
• It is important to understand that these candidates want to work; this may help them to achieve success in the future.

Maintaining Successful Employment

• It is important to understand that employees with mental illnesses may go through cycles of wellness and illness. In this regard, the employer’s support is crucial in reducing stigma.

The wide range of communication preferences and styles among people with hearing loss cannot be fully covered in this toolkit.

The following generalizations are provided for the sole purpose of helping readers to better understand the nuances associated with this range of disabilities.

People who are deaf (completely)

• Often use different sign languages, such as: American Sign Language (ASL), Pidgin Signed English (PSE), Signed Exact English (SEE).
• Find out how you should be communicating- should you use sign language, gesturing, writing or speaking?
• American Sign Language is an entirely different language from English, with its own unique syntax.
• Let the person know if you have trouble understanding their speech.
• Lip reading is difficult for people who are deaf if their language is American Sign Language; simply because it’s difficult to lip read a second language!
• When talking, face the person.
• The most effective way to communicate with a person who uses sign language is through a qualified sign language interpreter.
• For simple interactions, consider using text messages; writing back and forth is usually OK.

People who have some hearing loss

• Lip read at different levels of accuracy. May use some form of hearing aid to increase volume.
• Find out how you should be communicating… using sign language, gesturing, writing or speaking?
• People who experienced hearing loss as adults do not commonly use sign language.
• Let the person know if you have trouble understanding their speech.
• Speak clearly. Avoid chewing gum or hiding your mouth with your hand while speaking. There is no need to shout; when someone uses a hearing aid, it will be set to an appropriate volume.
• When talking, face the person.
• Adults may use writing and assistive listening devices such as teletypewriter (TTY) or video relay service (VRS) to help with communication.
• For simple interactions, consider using text messages; writing back and forth is usually OK.

When a sign language interpreter is present, look directly at the person who is deaf and maintain eye contact as you would when talking with anyone else. Ask questions directly to the person rather than asking the interpreter. Technology makes texting easy. Smart phones can be connected to speech readers and dictation devices.

Some people who are deaf, blind or have reduced vision or who have a traumatic brain injury, a seizure disorder or a range of other disabilities may use a service animal to assist them with daily living.

Do not touch the service animal without permission. The animal may be adorable, but it is on the job! In some instances, the service animal may not display information identifying it as such.

Within a business, this means that a “no animal” policy would need to be modified to allow the person to enter with a service animal.

Inclusive workplaces will have designated spaces for service animals.

Some people communicate and interpret interpersonal communications differently. For example, when engaging with individuals on the autism spectrum:

• Use clear and straightforward language. Try to avoid metaphors, figures of speech or sarcasm (if you do use sarcasm, be prepared to explain what you really mean if there is confusion).
  Example: The question “Which colour, animal or shape do you associate yourself with?” makes no sense to someone on the autistic spectrum.

Individuals on the autism spectrum can have very linear thought patterns and deal most efficiently with sequential tasks.

Divide large multi-part questions into separate questions. Ask one question at a time, and obtain an answer before moving on the next question.  It is important that questions be tailored to individuals on the autism spectrum, simply because they tend to be precise and detail-oriented and may place a lot of emphasis on the literal meaning of words.

• Be clear about what types of answers you expect.
  Example: Instead of asking a question such as "Tell me something about yourself", try to be more specific. For example, you could ask, "Please share two things about your personal qualities or skills that relate to this job and its tasks.”

At times, interactions with a person with autism may challenge established social norms of communication.

Don’t assume that aloofness or awkwardness in an interview is a sign of disinterest. Some individuals use facial expressions differently, or have difficulty interpreting body language.

Allow candidates to write down their responses before they respond verbally. 

Broaden your opportunities to hire the right talent for the job! You may well discover that successful interview skills are different from the skills needed on the job.

• Some individuals may not be able to communicate verbally. Instead, allow them to demonstrate their skills with a one-or-two hour "work demo".

Not all disabilities are visible. A person may make a request or behave in a way that seems strange to you, and you may not understand why. Their request or behaviour may be disability-related.

For example, you may give someone simple verbal directions, but the person may ask you to write down the information. This person might be hard of hearing or have a learning disability that makes it easier to understand written communications.