In a job interview I think I would be upfront about my voice first, so that after you have explained, briefly, what is going on, the others can focus on what you are saying, not how you are saying it. But it's not easy.

I used to be a teacher, and had to give it up due to SD. I was lucky - other doors opened for me. The SD was more of a problem for me when communicating with my ex-colleagues than it was with students.

Please let me share three points with you:

1. My career has often put me in the posititon of conducting interviews and making hiring recommendations and decisions. From my perspective, I suggest you begin your interview by saying "Before we start, please let take a moment to explain that I have a voice disability. If I'm difficult to understand, please just ask me to repeat." This way, the interviewer can focus on your content rather than attending to wondering about your voice. It also demonstrates self confidence. If the interviewer asks about your condition, answer all questions honestly and to the best of your ability. You may even want to invite the interviewer to ask questions.

2. My job also requires me to deal frequently with people I've not met previously. In those conversations, too, I start by saying I have a disability and will appreciate being told if I need to repeat. Usually, I even make a joke about my voice to put the other person completely at ease. The point here is that I regularly do what I'm suggesting you do, so I can vouch that it can work just fine.

3. Remember to phrase so that the burden is yours, not the other person's - e.g. say "if I'm difficult to understand" rather than "if you can't understand me."

I know it's tough, but try to be comfortable and make the other person comfortable. People hire folks they like provided that qualifications are met. If you mention your situation upfront, the interview may also be less stressful for you and your performance will improve as a result.

Best regards,

Linda

I can't speak for "all you people," but speaking for myself, my use of the term "up front" meant at the beginning of the interview.

To answer your next direct question, my having SD is not a source of either shame or embarrassment. The issue is only that SD is rare so a brief explanation is useful to keep a listener focused on content. It also is a kindness to the listener so he can be comfortable with asking for repetition. Perhaps we travel in different circles, but less than 1% of the people I meet find it "apparent" that I have a neurological condition.

My SD is mild compared to most. My voice sounds different and often times just not clear or that I have a cold. I once tried to be upfront with a recruiter on a day that my voice was not that good and she looked at me like I was strange for bringing it up.

My advice is to be honest if asked about your voice, BUT don't assume that it is going to be a problem. Be as prepared as you can for your interview (prepared answers might help to overshadow voice problems).

If someone has a cold should they bring that up in an interview or just proceed as you normally would?

If public speaking is not going to be a big part of the job that you are interviewing for, then I say let the interviewees determine if your voice is a problem or not.

Bring up SD without being asked is the same to me as listing weaknesses without being asked. The job market is tight enough right now, I don't believe that we SD'ers have to make it any tougher on ourselves then we have to.

Remember most employers (and insurance companies) don't consider SD a disability. Therefore, I say don't be the one to mention it unless it is impacting your performance in the interview.

Good luck.

I concur with you that the severity of one's SD is a factor an individual may want to consider in making his choice of if or not to mention it. However, I respectfully disagree with you that bringing it up is tantamount to assuming it is a problem or that SD is a weakness.

Regards,

Linda

Oh yes, our heart might be there 100% for the job, our brain will be there 100%, our hands and feet generally work pretty good - the reality is that our voice will not be there a full 100%, especially in jobs that require us to work in noisy environments or be on the telephone for many hours, or give oral presentations or teach. This is the reality, and I think, in my opinion, that we owe it to our prospective employer to be upfront with them. In return, if they have any sense of fairness, they will thank us for our honesty and integrity and strive to help us deal with our disability in the workplace.

In the 12 years I've had SD, and meeting hundreds of SD'ers in person, we're all pretty smart. However, as Joan has indicated "getting a job"...and "continuing employment" is often our Number One issue.

Much depends on how severe our individual case is. As a career software development manager in a huge corporation, I did heavy-duty vocalization about 7 to 10 hours a day (negotiation, representing my employees and my numerous software projects, etc). When the severe SD hit, that was no longer possible. Result was the "career-loss" I've described many times on this BB over several years.

After my vocal (RLN) surgery 7 years ago, I went back to work in Corporate America (in my career field, but as an analyst, rather than a technical manager). At that point, I could easily say..."I only have one vocal cord, so if you can't hear me, please ask me to repeat." I got alot of support from some employers, but not from other prospective employers. People still passed judgment on me. Wouldn't you know it (life's ironies?), with strong technical skills but little vocal-power, I have to sell myself harder than ever before, and that's very hard on the voice. Always had to interview for 10 positions (at least), just to get one. Always got every job I wanted, prior to SD. Whew!...All this "selling ourselves" is difficult on the vocal system.

Alot of us SD'ers deal with this syndrome, to gain employment.

I had one employer for 22 years (prior to developing SD) and have had 11 (eleven) since, and now can't work at all, due to SD. It's very difficult, managing employment with SD. Some employers are amenable to vocal issues. Many aren't. So many employers pass judgment, if one doesn't "sound good." It's always important to find *the right one* (a match) and I sure hope it works for Joan. With vocal issues, an employment match is much more difficult to find.

It's important to be upfront on-the-job, to the extent needed. If somebody has a mild-case of SD, almost no explanation in a job interview is necessary. Revealing our vocal disorder (to the extent we have it) is always a balance. It's a matter of education of the folks around us also. I hope Joan, and everyone, tells people that just because our (her) voice isn't always the best....we still have skills and our intelligence hasn't failed.

Happy New Year to all of us! We deserve a break, and a great 2003.