Robert Buchanan ⋅ Hensley, AR URS ⋅ 38 years experience

Chris, without knowing details - the short answer is no and you do not need to include your disability rating nor your disability on the resume or application. Now the caveat is that if you are unable to perform some portions of the job without the employer making accomodations you will at some point in the process inform HR of the issue and what accomodations could be made to allow you to perform the job. Eventually HR may want to know if you are a disabled vet but that is for numbers only. Many large companies have goals for the number of vets and disabled vets they hire so you want to ensure they do get credit for that.
I hope this helps. Thank you for serving! Good luck on your transition.

Kermit Burley ⋅ Bethlehem, PA Hewlett Packard ⋅ 33 years experience

Chris,

You pose a very vexing question, and you have received some terrific advice from the contributors above. I have been in many interviews, both asking the questions and answering them and have experienced all types and kinds of interviewers, both good and bad. As you have learned in the answers above, a company that will not accept and accommodate someone with a disability, and a veteran on top of that, is not a company that I would want to be a part of.

Honesty in an interview is always the best policy, of course, and should the topic of a disability arise, it will need to be addressed. However as you have also learned above, these questions teeter on the edges of "allowable" interview questions and you most likely will not have questions of this nature addressed in good and solid companies. Where you will sometimes run into them will be on the job application, or, as also discussed above, during the on boarding process. I would prepare and plan a good response to these questions, but it will most likely be phrased along the lines of "Can you perform the essential duties of this position with "reasonable" accommodations?" I would craft my response and prepare for it prior to my interviews.

I would prepare for all interviews with optimism. There are a great number of wonderful and ethical companies out there, many of whom, as you have also read above, have goals to hire both veterans and veterans with disabilities. Those would be the companies you want to work for, during your career. Be confident you can find such an organization that will utilize your skills.

Thank you for your service, I am confident you will soon find the perfect position and one you can also be proud of.

Chris Norton ⋅ Hightstown, NJ Defense Mobile Corporation ⋅ 18 years experience

Great question, and one that I don't know there is a single right answer for.

First have to say this is a matter of my personal opinion-I would not disclose it during the application and interview process. It's typically not going to be relevant to your skills or ability to do the job you're interviewing for (except as Bob noted in LE). You WILL have the opportunity to disclose this during your onboarding process, but in virtually all businesses it won't go beyond a reporting tool used to go to DOL, unless you need accomodations (which you would be able to request at that time).

The flip side is in some cases it may be to your advantage to disclose it up front. I would say that is the exception as opposed to the norm, however.

Bob Theroux ⋅ Hudson, NH ⋅ 30 years experience

Chris makes a good point when you are interviewing to disclose the disability. This can come back at you depending on what job you look for and the depth of a back ground check especially in a criminal justice arena. I interview and honesty is the base way to follow never let your intergrity come into question. Good Luck!

Christopher Elwood ⋅ Ocoee, FL Cardel ⋅ 20 years experience

Chris,

I too faced this daunting issue when I first separated. I decided to be honest from the very beginning as many companies can use that information to question your integrity if they were to find out that you in fact had a service related disability. I've actually spoken with many HR reps who have dismissed interviewers who posted no, but divulged the information during a phone or face to face interview. To date it's never been an issue for me and much to Kevins point, if they can't accept you with your disability, you probably don't want to be a part of that organization anyway.

Best of Luck!

chris zimbardi ⋅ Ambler, PA U.S. Army Reserve, Captain ⋅ 23 years served

Kevin... Thanks for writing back and the advice. My main disability is PTSD and how is that handled in the work force. I will be discharged soon and will be looking for employment.

Kevin Horgan ⋅ Roswell, GA UPS ⋅ 28 years experience

Chris... I would tell of your disability just like any other issue you might want to convey. To Robert's earlier point, without knowing the details, it is difficult to broad-brush. My opinion is that a disability is not something to hide, or be ashamed of, and employment law has made it illegal to discriminate against a prospective employee because of a disability. As an aside, you do not want to work at a company where you and your disability are not embraced or accommodated... especially if you are up front about it, and the disability might not be readily seen on a cursory look. I think any company would be proud to have you on board.

chris zimbardi ⋅ Ambler, PA U.S. Army Reserve, Captain ⋅ 23 years served

Robert, thanks for taking time to answer my question i appreciate your response.