Category: Jobs and Employment
Well, the subject pretty much says it all. I'm looking for advice/stories about what to do when your prospective employer asks you to perform the dreaded typing test.
In the past, I have never had to do this, but I'm due for an interview next week, and the HR Rep informed me that as a part of the application process there'd be a typing test.
Should I call them back and tell them that without proper screen magnification or JAWS my typing test results will be abysmal, or should I perhaps ask them if they'd do the blind-mans typing test, that's where they use a stop-watch device and let me type whatever I want an empty word document, and gauge my typing/accuracy based on that?
Any help would be appreciated, as I don't want to travel 35/40 minutes to the interview (traffic willing) only to find that that one little aspect is going to be the difference between my seriously being considered for the position, and simply dismissed.
Thank you in advance
YBF
I had to do something like this for something else, they had a page of something recorded and I listened to it on head phones and typed what I heard: of course they let me try a few times ffor practice because the recorder thing was atached to a foot peddle thing to start play rewined and fast forward it. Find out what your going to need to be typing for first and then come up with a way to do it if this does not work.This methid would be for writing letters or things like as a secatary job.
if you have a laptop with jaws on it, maybe you can take it with you, Do you need Jaws to just type? Your not going to be editing it.
I think the laptop thing is a great idea, or do you have Jaws on a dongle, a sort of flashdrive like device that you could just plug into the computer? If you work with a vocational counselor of some sort, perhaps you could bring this up with them. I would assume the test is stuff that's writtenn, and you'd need to hear what's being read either if it's on the screen, or a print copy of the test. Good luck!!
See I was curious about this situation as well actually. I will tell you guys of a situation that happened to me a few years ago... I had an interview, and there was a typing test involved with the assessment that followed, and my interviewer informed me that I wasn't able to do the typing test with someone dictating it to me because it's one of those things that I have to do on my own. I tried to explain to her that as far as I'm concerned there is no way to make it accessible but to have someone dictate it to me. I actually went to the labor board about this as well and complained about it because this company totally let me down.
It is also a good idea to get use to typing on the computer with out JAWS just in case you run in to this ishue again. I keep my echo thing on nun, and I keep the puctuation on nun as well. I have found that I type a hole lot faster with out hearing Jaws and If I need to go and check on something make sure I am typing right I just go back over and read it. I have had situation in school wear I had to really quick type something up on the computer and print it out for the teacher and being able to do this without jaws made the difference.I do however have a dimoe jaws on the computers at school so I can use it for a short while if need be.
if the computer that you gonna use without jaws or any screen reader, try using SA ToGo. surely they have it connected to internet, as long as the computer have a soundcard, you can bring your own headphone, that might work relatively well. bringing laptop is not a bad idea, however, you dont really want to give them an impression where, you can't work without your own devise.
I agree with post 6, I think it's really important to try and learn to type without things like Key Echo, so that if you ever do have to type without Jaws, you can.
Thanks guys, the problem isn't Jaws, as most of the time I don't use it, unless I'm tired, or having an especially bad eye day. The problem is brooching the subject of how I'm going to read the test if the contrast is all wrong, or if the text isn't magnified to the point where I can read it without making out with the screen. I've never packed zoomtext on to a flash-drive, but by my bringing it with me, aren't I doing what JoAnn advised against? Making it look like I can't function with their software, I am bringing my own in? Then there is the security issues that most company tech-guys obsess over and bringing a strange new program that they have never heard of might count against me in the long run, and there is no telling if they'd allow me to stick a flash drive on to their system computer.
I've thought of simply calling the HR guy back and just telling him "Look, I am visually impaired, and in order to sit for this required typing test I am going to have to either do it on my laptop or be allowed to bring a flash drive with a program that will allow me to read the screen. If this is going to be a problem, then perhaps I shall save both you and I valuable time by respectfully declining. Thank you for your kind consideration."
I'm hoping to avoid that, however. >.<
Hi, as far as the flash drive issue, in my last couple of jobs, I've had to use my own laptop. So, to avoid any security breaches (not that I'd do anything wrong), I have left the flashdrive at work. No work-related info is saved on my computer, and I run off of 2 different networks, one for home, and another for work. I think calling the HR person is a great idea, and ask them if you could bring in a flash drive, or other accessible devices. Think about it, would a sighted person take a test without their glasses if they needed them? I'm sure with a little brainstorming, you and your potential employer could find a way to take the test. While I understand the security issue, and unfamiliar software, I think lots of employers like that you're prepared to do the job, including using whatever software is available, even if it's your personal copy. Even if they don't let you use it at work, at least it gives them an idea that you can work with adequate accomodation, and it kind of lowers the fear factor, at least, this has been my experience.