As a person with a disability, work can be challenging. Having an open relationship with your employer and knowing your right to reasonable accommodation can help mitigate stress, but technology can make your professional life easier as well.
It can help you find the right job and/or succeed in a current job. So, whether you are a job seeker or a promotion seeker, here are top ways you can use tech to make the most of your career.
Start with reliable service and a smartphone
If you want to make the most of technology in your career, the tech should be mobile. Thus, many working professionals opt for mobile device plans to get access to reliable talk, text, and data services that can keep you connected and give your career a slight edge.
These plans are pretty affordable, but you should also do your homework and check with your current employer to see if any corporate or job-related discounts are available. Once you have selected a wireless carrier that is best for your needs and budget, you will want to shop for smartphones, so that you can make the most of all of those features.
Whether you opt for Android, Apple, or another brand, a powerful phone can provide a big career boost.
Bookmark a few job-hunting apps and resources
You can use your new smartphone to access top job search apps such as Glassdoor, Indeed, and Monster (South Africans job seekers can check Careers24 or Bizcommunity for job opportunities or visit Gumtree for informal employment).
Thousands of potential employers post openings on these sites every day. You can use these resources to research positions and employers.
Even if you are happy in your current role, there are benefits to having industry insight at your fingerprints. If you know the average salaries for someone in your position, for example, you are in a better position to negotiate a raise or other job perks with your current company.
If you are looking for a new job, you should also use your smartphone or a computer to research the pros and cons of disclosing your disability to prospective employers, so that you will know which option is best for your job search. (In South Africa, it is beneficial to disclose your disability as your employer can earn BBBEE points and receive tax rebates.)
Access helpful resume-building programmes and tools
If you are looking to advance your career or find a new job, then you need to keep your resume and other professional documents updated. Building and editing a resume can be a tedious task, and it can be all too easy to make mistakes.
For many hiring managers and potential employers, resume mistakes can be a deal-breaker for even the most qualified candidates. The most common mistakes that can cost you a promotion or new job include mismatched employment dates, misspelled words, and sloppy design choices.
Thankfully, if you are savvy with tech, you can avoid these career-killing mistakes by using online resume builders. These sorts of programs take a lot of the guesswork out of crafting and editing an attractive resume.
Stay on top of essential social media tools and tips
Do you wondering what potential employers value the most in applicants? Well, social media sites like LinkedIn are becoming powerful recruiting and networking tools that every motivated professional should use to achieve career goals.
By using LinkedIn, you can see that current employers are looking for employees who have a wide range of tech-based skills, including cloud computing, video production, and of course, social media marketing, as well as softer skills, such as time management and creativity.
If you are looking to enhance these skills, having the right tech can definitely help. For instance, time management apps can give you an edge when it comes to performance, which could help you land a promotion or even a new position.
If you want to avoid added stress in your career, you need to work smarter, not harder. Thus, using the tech tools listed above can be so beneficial at just about any stage in your professional life.
Plus, you can find countless other uses for tech, including increased productivity and enhanced team communications, with a little more research. So, start with the tips above and then look for other ways to enrich your career goals with the latest technology.
Article written and submitted by Patrick Young. Visit the website www.ableusa.info for more content.
