I have quite a few references, actually; my friend from Gordon College, who, ultimately allowed me to recognize my own potential, and I have him to thank for that, as well as the gentleman I volunteer for in Cambridge. In terms of coding, I'm getting better, though my programming skills are still weak at the moment, though I do plan to begin an open source project just as long as I can create code for an idea I have. I already have ideas, so it shouldn't be too long now. -----Original Message----- From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Chris Nestrud Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 5:15 PM To: 'Blind sysadmins list' Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] FW: How to sell yourself to employers as a blind, but capable technologist The two things that have really worked in my favor are directly relevant experience and excellent references who are eager to explain how I changed their world for the better. I think that you not only need to be able to sell yourself, but you also need credible people who will independently agree with what you have said. If most or all of your experience is self-taught, you have surely considered volunteering to get experience and references. Do any of your users groups have servers in need of admins? I'd imagine that the members have gotten past any blindness issues and recognize that you have skills. Do any of them work for companies that have internship opportunities? If you're into development, could you spin up a VPS and write some code so you have a project (hopefully with some users to go along with it) to display? Chris -----Original Message----- From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Katherine Moss Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 1:48 PM To: blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] FW: How to sell yourself to employers as a blind, but capable technologist -----Original Message----- From: Katherine Moss Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 2:47 PM Subject: How to sell yourself to employers as a blind, but capable technologist Hello all, My name is Katherine Moss, and let me tell you. Boy do I wish I had discovered this list years ago. I have been a technologist/administrator for the past ten years dabbling in everything from Windows to most recently Linux. I'm wondering what you guys have done to sell yourself to employers during interviews to get hired at your fulfilling jobs. I desire greatly to become a paid systems administrator and not just have technology as a hobby. I have a degree in English, though I'm planning on getting a certificate in network technologies and administration at Bunker Hill Community College (I am from Massachusetts). As of right now, regardless of the fact that I do have experience, employers are getting tripped up by my lack of official vender certifications, as well as my blindness. I will admit that I'm very open about my blindness, using it as a jumping off point to launch accessibility awareness campaigns rather than brooding over it. I'm wondering if my openness du ring the first interview at a job could be hurting me? I ask this because qualifications can't be the problem since I'm a member of a couple of user groups here in New England, and not many of us have computer science degrees at all. What has been your take on this? Thanks. _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins@lists.hodgsonfamily.org http://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins