Disability Resource Coordinator for Capital Workforce Partners Jill Larmett came to CCSU to speak to students about disabilities and employment.

The presentation was set up by Student Disability Services in cooperation with Central’s Career Success Center on Thursday, Oct. 11.

Larmett presented many questions and pieces of advice for students seeking employment, especially to those students who have disabilities. She began by asking students to reflect on who they are.

“It is a really deep, deep question and it’s not just about doing a bunch of assessments,” Larmett said,  continuing with other questions to ask oneself. “Take it a step further and interview your friends, your family [and] your professors. How do they see you?”

Larmett then encouraged students to look at the labor market when seeking employment, claiming that “the bachelor’s degree is the new high school diploma.” Larmett stated that right now is a great time to enter the workforce given the aging workforce and that Connecticut has one of the oldest in the nation.

Larmett commented specifically on Pratt and Whitney, saying that the company has “13,000 jobs they need to fill.” She advised students to ask themselves, “What’s currently working for you?” and “What’s not working for you?”

“These are things you need to fix now before you go to work,” she said.

The next part of Larmett’s presentation talked about how to get to your goal. She classified three categories of skills that employers are looking for: hard skills, soft skills and transferable skills. Hard skills, she explained are skills that can be measured and taught. Soft skills are personality driven, less tangible and are proven through showing. Transferable skills include aptitude and knowledge and can be learned through jobs, school and other activities.

When it comes to seeking a job, Larmett said that networking and maintaining a clean social media account are very important factors. For interviews, Larmett advised students to “do [their] homework.”

“Practice, practice, practice. Research the company. Look at their mission statement. Arrive early, but not a half hour early. Dress appropriate for the job,” she explained.

The final part of the presentation dealt with disabilities in the workplace. A key tool and protection is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Larmett said. Passed in 1990, the ADA is a civil rights legislation protecting people with disabilities from discrimination.

“It is the employer’s responsibility to put accommodations into place if you need one in order to perform the essential functions of the job,” Larmett told the students in attendance. “Experts will tell you not to disclose unless you need an accommodation. It is nobody’s business but yours. It is never too late to disclose that you need an accommodation.”