Advertising jobs to reach disabled people

1 in 5 people have some form of hearing loss, so make sure your job adverts reach and attract potential candidates from this wide pool of talent.

Research tells us that people who are deaf or have hearing loss may be put off applying for jobs because of concern that their communication needs won’t be met during the interview process. So make sure your job adverts let prospective applicants know that you champion equality and diversity in the workplace and will support people with disabilities to fulfil their potential.

Here are our tips for reaching people who are deaf or have hearing loss:

• Sign up for the Disability Confident scheme and include the badge on your advert – this shows potential employees your commitment to supporting people with disabilities.
• Advertise jobs through a variety of channels including Jobcentre Plus or, in Northern Ireland, the Jobs and Benefits Office.
• Offer alternative ways for people to contact you for more information, such as giving an email address as well as a telephone number.
• Brief any recruitment agencies you use on your ambition to recruit a diverse workforce including people with disabilities, and ensure they are familiar with the content of this guide.
• Use plain English in your job applications. This is useful for everyone and will support people who use BSL (British Sign Language) as their first language.

“Nowadays we are much hotter on diversity and inclusiveness, so EY is much more progressive, and I think that’s because society is much more accepting of people with disabilities as well.”

Sarah Petherbridge, Ernst & Young