It's the perfect time for employers to assess their company&rsquo;s commitment to disability inclusion &ndash; even beyond National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Branding your company as a disability-inclusive employer is a primary way to improve your company culture, increase retention, and foster opportunities for leadership.&nbsp; 
Here are six ways to brand yourself as a disability-inclusive employer:
<ul>
<li>Perform a disability-inclusivity audit of your company marketing. Do you know if your website and social media platforms are accessible to disability communities? Do your marketing materials, including stock photos, include authentic disability representation? If you aren&rsquo;t considering how to make your marketing efforts disability inclusive, you&rsquo;re missing out on the potential for significant business growth. Use authentic images of people with disabilities in your print, video, and web materials.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Assess the accessibility of your job applications. Inaccessible job applications significantly hinder your reputation as a disability-inclusive employer. If your job applications aren&rsquo;t accessible to job seekers with disabilities, you&rsquo;re likely missing out on qualified candidates before they even reach you. When developing an accessible application process, focus on the following:
<ul>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li>Include an accommodation statement on recruitment material that states accommodations can be provided upon request, along with contact info on how to obtain accommodations.</li>
<li>Avoid listing job requirements that aren&rsquo;t essential to the position. Desirable qualifications, such as requiring the &ldquo;ability to bend, lift, push at least 50 lbs,&rdquo; or &ldquo;type 50 wpm&rdquo; can discourage otherwise qualified candidates from applying.</li>
<li>Be wary of artificial intelligence-based job screener software, such as facial recognition apps, conversational agents, and applicant tracking systems. These can be discriminatory towards applicants with disabilities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Invest in training and development. It&rsquo;s important to ensure all employees understand the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace. Even if HR and executive leadership are supportive of disability inclusion, your efforts will only be effective if you have buy-in at all levels. Consider mandatory training on various topics related to inclusion, including disability etiquette, reasonable accommodations, and unconscious bias. Furthermore, your current employees who have disclosed they have disabilities deserve investment in their professional development. Think through what opportunities these employees have for advancement into positions of leadership.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Prioritize accommodations for existing employees &ndash; Just as it&rsquo;s important to make sure your company&rsquo;s external marketing efforts and job applications are accessible, employers who want to be deemed disability-inclusive should also have a seamless internal reasonable accommodation process. This means determining how and when accommodation requests will be reviewed and implemented and providing a method for resolving disputes.
<ul>
<li>Keep in mind that accommodations should always be determined in communication with the employee requesting them rather than making decisions without discussion. Employees will already know what will be most beneficial to help them perform their jobs well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li>Partner with disability-focused organizations &ndash; One of the commonly reported barriers to disability-inclusive hiring is finding qualified job candidates. Often engaging directly with people with disabilities can help provide understanding about potential job opportunities they&rsquo;d not previously considered. Making this effort to engage with disability-serving organizations is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to including people with disabilities in your workplace.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;d love to support you as you build your inclusive brand! For more information, please contact us at gettinghired@careercircle.com.&nbsp;

Assess your company’s commitment to disability inclusion beyond NDEAM. Learn six ways to brand yourself as inclusive.

How to Brand Yourself as A Disability-Inclusive Employer During NDEAM and Beyond | Getting Hired

How to Brand Yourself as A Disability-Inclusive Employer During NDEAM and Beyond

Looking for a new job can be mentally and emotionally taxing, especially if you are someone with an already existing mental health issue.&nbsp; Even if you don&rsquo;t have an existing issue, it can feel difficult to stay positive when on the hunt for a job when the market seems to be against you.&nbsp; Here are some ways you can help look after your mental well-being while job hunting.
&nbsp;
<h2>Schedule your Day</h2>
This one is the advice everyone gives but is the most difficult to manage, set a schedule and stick to it.&nbsp; If you are in a position where you are job hunting and are currently employed trying to manage time for applications and interviews is a daunting task.&nbsp; Break down your tasks as much as possible so you know exactly what you are working on and when, and plan out the time to do them. 
If you are a person who is currently unemployed and looking for a job then this is even harder to stick to and requires a lot of self-discipline.&nbsp; Create a schedule of what you need to do and include breaks as part of the schedule.&nbsp; Force yourself to not only look for work but to actively practice self-care.&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t plan on spending 10+ hours job hunting, instead set a baseline of around 5 hours of job searching and career development with the rest of your day spent looking after your mental health.
&nbsp;
<h2>Set Realistic Goals</h2>
&ldquo;So many people will set a goal like &lsquo;I will be employed within the next two months' without considering the fact they cannot predict what the job market will look like,&rdquo; warns Christine Braun, a business writer at <a href="https://uk.eliteassignmenthelp.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Elite assignment help</a> and <a href="https://bestbritishessays.com/ukwritings-com-review/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">UK Writings review</a>.&nbsp; These unrealistic goals tend to come from older self-help books that talk about the law of attraction or the manifestation of goals.&nbsp; It can take several months to find work and this has only gotten more difficult in recent years. 
For your mental health, it&rsquo;s better to set smaller goals. Decide how you plan to apply for work and how many jobs you will apply to in a day.&nbsp; You may even make some tiered goals that are quantifiable and easy to accomplish.&nbsp; This also has the benefit of breaking work down into smaller manageable steps that show the progress you are making even if you haven&rsquo;t yet got to that final goal of employment.
&nbsp;
<h2>Practice Mindfulness and Self Care</h2>
The biggest thing to do when job searching is to ensure you are looking after yourself emotionally, physically, and mentally.&nbsp; Set time aside to deal with any surges of emotion you feel and try not to judge yourself too harshly if you haven&rsquo;t met a goal.
 Work out what self-care means for you on top of the basics like ensuring you drink enough water, get enough sleep and eat healthily.&nbsp; Work out the time these activities take and the materials needed and put these moments into your day.&nbsp; Even if it&rsquo;s only 10 minutes at the end of a long day it can go a long way to improving your mental health. 
It sounds very flowery and some people can find it strange to do at first but creating affirmations can help boost you when you&rsquo;re down. Put up notes that remind yourself why you&rsquo;re doing this and what your values are.&nbsp; Create little rituals for job applications where you have been unsuccessful in processing the feelings of rejection.&nbsp; Remember you are an individual and not your job, work does not define you.&nbsp; This is especially true if you&rsquo;ve been laid off or are unemployed.&nbsp; Take some time to learn new skills and appreciate what it is that makes you, you.
&nbsp;
<h2>Ask for Help</h2>
&ldquo;A lot of us don&rsquo;t like to do it but sometimes all you can do is be brave and ask someone for help,&rdquo; says journalist James Hernandez of <a href="https://revieweal.com/top-uk-writing-services/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Revieweal</a> and <a href="https://ukservicesreviews.com/oxessays/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">OX Essays review</a>.&nbsp; Whether it&rsquo;s reaching out to friends or family for advice, going to groups to help practice interviews and to help review your CV, getting in touch with former co-workers to help you network, or admitting you need some bigger help in the form of a therapist there is no shame in asking for help when it feels too much.
&nbsp;
Sharing the concerns you have can help lessen the burden you feel and may even pay dividends in your job search. Most of your friends or family will have been in a similar position before and will be happy to help you in whatever way you need.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s the hardest step but at the end of the day, it&rsquo;s the one that might benefit you the most.
&nbsp;
<h2>Wrapping Up</h2>
At the end of the day, remember that while a job is vital to be able to pay the bills it is not the only thing that matters.&nbsp; Ensure you take time to care for yourself and ask for help when you need it. Content Contributor: Writer and marketing strategist Rebecca Leigh, <a href="https://essayroo.com/write-my-essay" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Write My Essay</a> and <a href="https://bigassignments.com/cheap-assignment-help" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Big Assignments</a>, spends most of her work hours consulting with businesses or attending conferences relating to marketing and technology. When she has the time, she contributes to online magazines and blogs like <a href="https://liahelp.com/do-my-assignment" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Do My Assignment</a>. 
<hr>
 We are here to help you through your job search! Click <a href="https://www.careercircle.com/candidates" rel="follow noopener" style="color: #236fa1;" target="_blank">here</a> to register and set up your job seeker profile today to connect with our hiring employer partners!&nbsp;

Job hunting is tough. Get tips to protect your mental health, set goals, and practice self-care during your search.

Caring for Your Mental Health While Looking for a Job | Getting Hired

Job hunting can be mentally taxing. Discover tips to maintain your mental well-being, set realistic goals, and practice self-care during your search.

Caring for Your Mental Health While Looking for a Job

Adjusting to post-military life tends to be difficult for many veterans. You are leaving not just a way of life, but an experience. Upon leaving the military veterans tend to focus on things like finding a job, reconnecting to their family and community, and helping others &mdash; but one thing that often gets left to the wayside is physical and mental health. Choosing a post-deployment job is already a massive decision, so much so that diet, exercise, and self-care can be forgotten about. Keeping these items top of mind can truly make a difference and help veteran employees feel secure not only in the workplace but in their health as well. 
<h2>Spend Time Focusing on Physical Health</h2>
There is a good portion of veterans state that they have good physical health post-service, usually due to the fitness levels they had while in the military. However, a <a href="https://www.research.va.gov/currents/0120-Health-ranks-as-top-concern-for-Veterans.cfm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">study done by the VA</a> showed that after leaving the military more than half of participating veterans stated that they had chronic physical health problems. This could be chronic pain if they received an injury in service, sleep problems, or mental health issues.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The BRFSS</a>, or the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for the CDC, collects data from all 50 states and takes notes on health risk behaviors, health conditions, and much more. In this data, veterans are called out as well, showcasing where issues for veterans may lie post-military service. The data showcases that veterans are less likely to rate their overall health as good compared to those who weren&rsquo;t in service. 
&nbsp;
On top of self-reflection, veterans often suffer from common injuries that range from sprains and strains to more serious injuries like gunshot wounds, loss of limbs, or hearing loss related to noise exposure. Also, high blood pressure is another health concern commonly associated with veterans. While it may not seem detrimental, almost half of veterans are diagnosed with high blood pressure, which increases the chance of heart disease. Proactively setting aside time for a few walks a day can help alleviate some of this pain as well as help your heart, making your <a href="https://www.prevention.va.gov/Healthy_Living/Be_Physically_Active.asp" rel="noopener" target="_blank">physical health a priority</a> without adding too much to your plate. 
<h2>Ask Potential Employers about Health Benefits</h2>
Even though you may have access to the VA, you must be aware of the health benefits your employer may have in place too. Your employer should provide resources for you to have easy access to if you have health conditions related to your time in service.
&nbsp;
While most employers may focus on being <a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/employers" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Equal Employment Opportunity</a> based as well as follow the <a href="https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/understanding-your-employment-rights-under-americans-disabilities-act-guide-veterans" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Americans with Disabilities Act</a>, it&rsquo;s important to pay attention to what your employer offers once hired. They should offer accessibility in the workplace, and usually, the VA can help set up these accommodations with your employer if the lifestyle changes seem like drastic ones. 
&nbsp;
On top of these benefits through the VA, your employer should have healthcare options as well as dental, vision, and 401(k) plans that you can be a part of. While it is up to the discretion of the employer to have these plans, larger companies like grocery stores, retail businesses, and national brands, usually have <a href="https://www.paychex.com/articles/employee-benefits/5-things-about-offering-benefits-for-part-time-employees" rel="noopener" target="_blank">benefits for their full-time and part-time employees</a>. If you are a veteran that is choosing this route rather than something full-time, it&rsquo;s wise to ask if these are available! This is especially true if working in a field that comes with hazardous conditions, such as construction, being a first responder, or labor-intensive work. If not, make sure that the VA can provide benefits, or that they can work with your employer for a plan that works for you and your family. 
<h2>Stay on Top of Current Legislation, If You Can</h2>
Believe it or not, some of the best ways to be aware of your benefits after deployment is to take note of changes that are going on in the veteran community. Recently, the Honoring our PACT Act was signed into effect, which is the <a href="https://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/bill-may-allow-camp-lejeune-water-contamination-victims-file-lawsuit/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">biggest expansion for the VA</a> in 30 years or so. This bill opens up medical and financial coverage to veterans impacted by toxic substances in the military that were commonly found in burn pits, <a href="https://www.mesothelioma.com/states/north-carolina/camp-lejeune/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">at military bases</a>, and used across combat., New legislation, such as the PACT Act can be a lifeline for veterans post-service. 
&nbsp;
Far too often, veterans neglect their health due to the rising costs of healthcare. Luckily, <a href="https://www.aarp.org/home-family/voices/veterans/info-2022/pact-act.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The PACT Act</a> covers something called the &ldquo;Cost of Toxic Exposures Fund,&rdquo; which helps pay for the health care and benefits related to being exposed to hazards while in service. Not only does this help cover veterans' health care costs, but also helps families as well if they were exposed in housing units or through secondhand exposure to these chemicals. 
&nbsp;
While it may be hard to stay in the know about all things related to healthcare for veterans, working with your local VA can help you find the support and resources you need to stay healthy. The PACT Act also outlines that the VA will be more proactive in making those materials available. 
&nbsp;
As you start to make your way into the workforce after your time in the military, you must focus on your health, both physically and mentally. It can be hard to make time for yourself; the good thing is there are plenty of resources to make sure that you do.

Transitioning from military to civilian life? Keep your health in check with these essential tips.

Managing Your Health After Deployment in the Workplace | Getting Hired

Managing Your Health After Deployment in the Workplace

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Staff Writer

136 Articles

How to Brand Yourself as A Disability-Inclusive Employer During NDEAM and Beyond

Caring for Your Mental Health While Looking for a Job

Managing Your Health After Deployment in the Workplace

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