Signing Savvy for Libraries

Hearing people have access to “incidental information” all the time. They overhear conversations, they hear comments and remarks on the radio and television. Even background noises count as incidental information. This is called “hearing privilege.”  You don’t even think about it happening because it just does. How often can you actually pinpoint the exact moment you learned a new piece of information? Most of us forget where or how we came by the knowledge we have. We just know what we know. 

Here are some examples of when hearing people get information that deaf people don’t:

• When a hearing person laughs at something someone said.
• When hearing students (in a mainstream class) are talking about random things.
• When an announcement is made over the PA system.
• When you overhear a conversation at another table or in the next room.
• When you can overhear 5 or 6 conversations at the same time around you and you can tune in or out of any conversation you want.
• When interpreters (because of speed or skill) drop information.
• When elementary school kids listen to what middle school or high school kids say on the bus.
• An announcement on the radio.
• A commercial on TV (not all shows or commercials are captioned).
• Overhearing co-workers answers to client’s questions.
• Comments between teachers and interpreters.
• Every time a deaf student looks down to write notes they miss information from the interpreters.
• What your kids are doing in the next room: closet doors opening, cupboards closing, water running, zippers zipping, tiptoeing up the stairs, giggling.
• Hearing your keys drop, an alarm go off, a phone ring or a knock on the door. 

When communicating with the deaf, make sure you are aware of this incidental information and do your best to keep them in the loop.

Today applications for new jobs are increasingly offered exclusively via websites. With social media and our entire lives online most employers know quite a bit about you, including your reputation and writing skills, before they ever meet you face to face.  References have also become more important as references are sometimes the first people that interviewers speak to. 

Are you representing yourself well? How do you decide who to ask for a reference?

Here are 5 tips for laying the foundation for your job hunting and finding a good recommender:

1. Connect with Others

• First impressions matter. Put your best foot forward.
• Be personable and establish bonds with colleagues.

2. Represent Yourself Well Online

• Who you are online reflects how people see you in person.
• Don’t put anything on FB you aren’t proud of.
• Go through your Facebook and delete anything (pictures and words) that gives you pause.

3. Send Professional Messages

• Keep emails professional and purposeful.
• Put thought into each email you send.
• Re-read your emails before hitting “send.”

4. Choose a Good Recommender

• Be realistic in assessing your relationships.
• Choose people you respect and who respect you.
• Be sure the person you ask has a good reputation themselves.

5. Communicate with your Recommender

• Contact your references before you put them down.
• Be positive, respectful and grateful to the person writing you a letter of recommendation.