1. A Fresh Look at Accessibility and Online Job Applications
March 6, :00 am
Joiwind Ronen, PEAT
Josh Christianson, PEAT

2. Agenda Welcome Introduction to PEAT Background on Online Job Seeking
Review of Key Findings
Lessons Learned
Q & A

3. What is PEAT? Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology
Cooperative agreement funded by Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP)
Initiative to advance the employment and retention of people with disabilities through the development, adoption, and promotion of accessible technology

4. PEATworks.org

5. Employer Resources Employer Action Steps
An interactive resource on PEATworks.org developed to help organizations evaluate the current state of their accessible technology programs, and identify tools they can use to make organizational improvements

6. Why Does Accessible Technology Matter?
EMPLOYEE: The internet serves as a gateway to employment in today’s marketplace
EMPLOYER: Opportunity to widen the talent pool
PROVIDER: Demand for accessible products

7. Online Job Seeking
PEAT focused on the user experience during job seeking:
Search
Application
Pre-employment Testing

8. Online Job Seeking Activities
Conducted two dozen interviews with employer, technology providers and advocacy organizations
Reviewed leading practices and research in online job seeking

9. Why Isn’t Job Seeking Accessible? Employer Perspectives
Awareness & Perception → “I don’t have users with disabilities”
Compliance v. Usability Mindset → “Legal compliance is adequate”
Resource Constraints→ “The accessible solution is costly/ time- consuming/ does not exist”
Complexity & Customization → “The product is already accessible out of the box”
Inadequate Testing → “Developer/electronic testing will identify any and all accessibility issues”

10. Overview of Activities
Conducted online survey from 350+ users with disabilities

11. Survey Findings: Job Search and Social Media
Increasing use of social media during job search
50% of survey respondents used social media as part of their job search process
37% said they experienced accessibility or usability issues when using social media

12. Survey Findings: Tablets and Mobile Devices
Significant use of mobile devices and tablets to search for jobs
55% of respondents had searched for jobs using a mobile device and/or tablets
27% of respondents have applied for jobs using a mobile device and/or tablet

13. Survey Findings: Job Application Experience
Over 40% of respondents experienced difficulties or were unable to complete the application

14. Survey Findings: Pre-Employment Testing
Almost 70% of respondents were asked to complete pre-employment testing
Almost 40% of those said they experienced difficulties or were unable to complete pre-employment testing

15. Difficulties with Job Portals
Navigation is complicated
Applications time out before completion
Resume uploading is inconsistent and hard to review final product
Features and formatting present accessibility challenges
Many features are not compatible with assistive technology

16. What’s Next The survey is still open on PEATWorks.org
Continuing to talk to employers, developers and users including HR and employer groups
Creating an interactive tool to share leading accessibility practices related to the job seeking process

17. What Do You Think? Did this resonate? What did we miss?
What else should we be doing?
Who else should we talk to?
Other questions?

18. info@PEATworks.org www.PEATworks.org