Bonus Episode: A Little More on First Impressions

In this bonus episode, Sam and Joel revisit the discussion on the job interview from the last episode, focusing on a critical aspect that Sam felt was not fully addressed: the hostility experienced during the job interview.

Sam reflects on her recent interview where she encountered unexpected and challenging dynamics. Despite her best efforts to present herself professionally, the environment often felt hostile rather than collaborative. This atmosphere not only impacted her confidence but also made it difficult to effectively communicate her capabilities and fit for the role.

Sam's candid reflections aim to foster a greater awareness of the challenges people with a disability/ difference face and to encourage a more empathetic approach from interviewers and hiring managers.

Tune in as Sam and Joel explore these critical issues and continue the conversation around people with a disability/ difference and the difficulty in finding inclusive workplaces.

Thanks for listening. Follow the podcast on Instagram @a.wheelie.good.chat.podcast and Sam @sam.bamalama

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Transcript

Sam: 0:01

Hey everyone, and welcome back to another episode of A Wheally Good Chat where we divulge the areas of my life, even on PG one. So for a little bonus episode, I guess following on from last episode, which was called. Let me think about this.

Joel: 0:17

First impressions go both ways.

Sam: 0:19

Thank ,J, oe, and hello to my co-host, Joel.

Joel: 0:23

Hello, sam, pleasure to be here Today. We've got a bonus episode, sam. Yeah, look off mic. After our little episode last week, sam, you said or you sort of felt like maybe there are a couple of things that you didn't mention kind of pulled your punches a little bit and you wanted to come back and maybe revisit that episode a little bit just to add a couple of extra bits in. Is that right?

Sam: 0:41

Yeah, exactly, and I think it's the purpose of this is to, you know, be really open, be really like vulnerable. And yeah, I, just as I was editing and listening back, I just felt there were so many well, not so many there were definitely parts where I was just very held back, like Joel said, about my punches. So, yeah, it's just like a few little areas I just want to kind of touch on more and I guess I would just start with saying you know, I'm not here to have a bitch fest or anything like that. That's absolutely not the purpose of this little episode. It's just more to kind of talk about and, I guess, highlight how frustrating it is and how I don't think it got across in last episode. The frustration of having to, you know, deal with these comments and go through the rigmarole every time and people just doubting my capabilities is just, it's really, it's really shit.

Sam: 1:39

To put a fine point of it, I don't think I really went into, you know, too much detail about the eye contact. The eye contact was quite a pivotal point for me. The person who was doing the interview hardly made any eye contact with me and I was making the eye contact with them as they were talking. When I was talking, I was looking at them and the other interviewer but yeah, it wasn't reciprocated and I was like am I that intimidating? Are you that uncomfortable with someone in a wheelchair?

Joel: 2:13

Did you go in with a support worker or a friend? Did someone take you?

Sam: 2:17

Yeah, someone took me. They were obviously pushing me and they were the one who was predominantly being spoken to.

Joel: 2:24

That's what I was thinking.

Joel: 2:25

Yeah, because you sort of spoke about in the episode how it almost felt like when you go out to the community and people want to talk to your friend rather than you, and you're going in for a job interview and they're still doing that in a job interview.

Sam: 2:36

Exactly, which is absolutely baffling. Yeah, and the thing that really got me was they presumed that they would be staying and they just started pulling out a chair and I was like hold on a minute, is someone else joining us? And they never once asked me if your support is staying. No no, they did not, right? Yeah, and I think that just once again highlights how unaware they are of disability and just the uncomfortableness of it all. And I think there was a point in the last episode where Joel asked me has it stopped me from looking further into employment? I can't really remember how I answered that one, but, to be honest with you, it kind of comes and goes. I haven't looked since that interview,

Joel: 3:23

but it's so disheartening.

Joel: 3:25

You know, rejection is one thing and not getting these jobs, but also to have these experiences where you're. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but it does sound like you feel like subhuman, you feel like you're less than in these kind of spaces. And again, it's a job interview. You've got a degree. I think you know we've got to highlight that you've done a whole university degree. You are really qualified and some of the comments that they say just are really inappropriate and really focusing more on your disability you know the comment around, can you?

Joel: 3:57

can you type for eight hours? Well, it's like's like, bitch, I've got a degree. What did you? You know, it's like you had to do all that.

Sam: 4:04

Yeah, absolutely, and I think that's something that they just can't believe that someone with a disability has a degree.

Joel: 4:12

Yeah.

Sam: 4:13

I sent an email just giving feedback on my interaction and how it made me feel. I'm not expecting great changes or anything like that, but I think it was almost like my responsibility to kind of like provide that feedback, because how else would I know that? That's how they made me feel and that's the comments that were made. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's all I wanted to say, you know, on this little bonus episode. But yeah, hopefully it kind of just really solidifies how frustrating it is to have to go through this rigmarole every time. And you know the comments that I get I'm an intelligent woman and I'm capable of a job and I will only apply for jobs and that I'm going to be a worthy employee in.

Sam: 4:55

You know I just have to keep going until I find a job, but it's just really taxing

Joel: 5:01

and it is an important message, because employment rates in disability are really really, really low and these kind of things don't help. You know, when you're going to these and you're going against these barriers barriers that I don't have to deal with and I mentioned in the episode. No one has ever questioned my typing ability. No one's ever asked me those things. These aren't normal things that you should have to deal with. It's hard enough finding a job on its own and anyone out there who's looking for work, you know, going to interviews, getting rejections, you know, on and on and on. It's really really, really challenging. To also have this attitude around, this message around how you don't belong, I think is just horrible, horrible, and I think that we as a society need to do better. We need to have these inclusive conversations. Whether or not you get the job is besides the point.

Joel: 5:47

It's about the interactions in that interview as well

Sam: 5:49

Definitely, and that's probably, yeah, more the point, Like you know, if I get it, if I don't, but like I think it's building the awareness of what's acceptable and what's part of the job to ask

Sam: 6:02

yeah

Joel: 6:03

and so you've sort of landed at a point here.

Joel: 6:05

Are you saying that you don't want to apply for jobs? Are you sort of putting a halt on your job search at the moment because of these issues?

Sam: 6:11

yeah, I think it's out of frustration more than the time you know how jobs take a while to yeah, applying and that kind of thing but it's definitely more so the frustration of like, oh god, I'm gonna have to go through that again. Is this how they're all gonna be, kind of thing. Yeah, so I've got to kind of pick when I'm, I guess, mentally okay to go through those comments and how I'm going to handle them next time if they come up

Joel: 6:34

it just starts to spiral, doesn't it?

Joel: 6:36

because now these things are playing in your head, they're going to affect how you interview in the future, whether or not you apply for jobs and it's not just you, but I'm sure many other people have these experiences and I think are we missing out on some really valuable workers in this industry. We are crying out for social workers in this country, and here you are fully qualified, heaps of lived experiences, heaps of knowledge. You know so much to give in this space, and now you're in an area where you're going. I don't really even want to apply. I think what a shame how we've just lost that value, and how many other people are we losing because of this kind of culture and this attitude?

Sam: 7:13

Yeah, absolutely so.

Sam: 7:14

I hope everyone can feel my frustration or hear my frustration

Joel: 7:19

well, if there's anyone else out there who's listening, who's maybe going through a similar experience, you're. You are not alone. This is something that a lot of people I think are dealing with at the same time yeah and I don't know what the solution here is, sam, but I think as a society and as a culture, we need to start moving through this space a little bit better

Sam: 7:35

yeah, absolutely, absolutely

Sam: 7:37

So that's all for this little bonus episode, everyone, I hope. I hope you enjoyed it, but until next episode, everyone, stay safe.