Sign language interpreters at job interviews plays a crucial role. Here is why.

Government and private employment sectors are moving towards inclusion. They aim at providing equal opportunities for people with and without disabilities. Even though inclusion is on the cards, companies that hire employees have to go a long way in making their premises and work environment accessible and disabled-friendly.

It begins with picking the right candidate at job interviews. Deaf people are the raising demand for Indian sign language (ISL) interpreters at job interviews who can break barriers between the interviewee and interviewer.

Recently, Prasad Joshi, Secretary, Goa Association of Deaf had pointed out why ISL interpreters play a crucial job at interviews. Their presence is necessary as many government posts for deaf people, remain unfilled because deaf people are not called in for interviews. Even if they are called, communicating their skills and experience to an interviewer who does not know ISL is a tedious task for the interviewee.

Raja Rajasekharan P of v-shesh, an award-winning organization that prepares job seekers with opportunities and organizations with disability inclusion.

When attending an interview, it is important for a deaf person to communicate clearly and express their views. Interview process is all about testing a person’s skills. For instance, if it is for the role of a coder, they just need to write it down on paper. But what if it is for the post for a software engineer? They clearly have to express how they plan to do the job. It is impossible without an interpreter. Basically, an interpreter communicates two different languages and bridges the gap. Every employer must seek services of an ISL interpreter when interviewing a deaf person- P Raja Rajasekharan, Co-founder-Director, v-shesh

It is high time that government also steps in to highlight importance of interpreters at job interviews. Having a person to bridge communication gaps at interviews must be made mandatory. That way, a company can use the potential and skills of a deaf person to the maximum which in turn will help in the company’s development.

Atiya Hajee is an ISL interpreter from Pune.

“I have rendered my services to many companies when they had to interview a deaf person. I believe a deaf person must be given all the rights to express themselves clearly at a job interview. Having been part of many such panels, I know that an interpreter makes a lot of difference. In fact, there is a sigh of relief when the interviewer and interviewee understands what they want to communicate to each other”, she says.

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