ARISE - Skills Have No Stereotypes

3. Preparing for Workplace Communication

Starting a new job means learning not only new tasks but also new ways of communicating. During the first days or weeks, learners may need to:

introduce themselves to colleagues and their manager;
discuss workplace expectations;
ask questions or request clarification;
request workplace support when needed;
explain how they work most effectively.

For many people with disabilities, these conversations can be one of the most challenging parts of workplace integration. Some may be unsure how much information to share, worry about being misunderstood, or find it difficult to explain their needs in a professional way. Research conducted within the ARISE project also showed that learners often feel uncertain about discussing workplace support and would like practical guidance before entering employment.

This section helps learners prepare for these conversations by shifting the focus from disability to workplace success. Instead of concentrating on limitations or medical information, learners learn how to communicate what they can contribute, how they work best, and what practical conditions help them perform successfully.

3.1 Creating a Professional Workplace Profile

The Professional Workplace Profile is a practical communication tool developed to help learners organise the information that is most relevant when starting a new job.

Rather than preparing a description of themselves, learners prepare information that helps an employer understand how to support successful collaboration. The profile is built around three simple questions:

What can I contribute?
How do I work best?
What support helps me do my job successfully?

This structure encourages learners to focus on strengths, practical working preferences and solutions. It also reflects one of the key messages of this module: workplace conversations are most effective when they focus on how work can be organised successfully rather than on personal circumstances.

Practical activities

In this section, you will:

Complete the Professional Workplace Profile Worksheet to describe what you can do well, how you work best and what workplace support helps you succeed.
Apply an AI Prompt to organise your ideas, improve clarity and create a short professional introduction while preserving your own voice.
Review Marta's Case Study to see how these activities can be completed in a real-life workplace situation.

Together, these activities will help you create a clear and practical Professional Workplace Profile that you can use during job interviews, onboarding discussions, meetings with managers and conversations in the first weeks of employment.

Worksheet 2: My Professional Workplace Profile

This worksheet will help you prepare a short professional profile. It can help you introduce yourself and explain how you work best.

1. What I Can Do Well

What are your skills, strengths and experience? What can you contribute to your team?

2. How I Work Best

What helps you do your best work? Think about your communication style, work environment or daily routines.

3. What Support Helps Me Succeed

What support or workplace adjustments help you work successfully?

AI-supported activity

Learners use AI Prompt B to review and improve their profile. AI helps organise the information, improve clarity and suggest more professional wording while preserving the learner's own ideas, preferences and communication style.

Learners are encouraged to review the AI suggestions critically, adapting them where necessary so that the final profile reflects their own voice and individual circumstances.

AI Prompt B

“Act as an experienced career coach specialising in inclusive employment. Based on my notes below, write a short professional introduction (100–150 words) that I could use when meeting my manager or introducing myself in a new workplace. Please make it:

positive and professional;
focused on my strengths and what I can contribute;
clear about how I work best;
natural and respectful when mentioning any workplace support that helps me work effectively.

Here are my notes:

What I can do: …

How I work best: …

What support helps me succeed: …”

3.2 Preparation for the First Meeting

The first meeting with a manager is an important step in workplace integration. It is an opportunity to understand what will be expected during the first weeks of work, clarify responsibilities, discuss practical arrangements and establish open communication from the beginning.

Many people prepare for this meeting by thinking about what they should say. However, successful communication is not only about giving information - it is also about asking the right questions. Understanding expectations early can help prevent misunderstandings, reduce uncertainty and make workplace adaptation easier.

For many people with disabilities, preparing questions in advance can also reduce anxiety and increase confidence. It allows learners to focus on the information they need rather than trying to remember questions during the conversation.

Before the meeting, it is also helpful to think about four practical questions:

What personal information to share,
When is the best time to share it,
Who should receive it,
Why is sharing it helpful?

Preparing to Discuss Workplace Support
What to share	In many situations, it is not necessary to disclose a medical diagnosis. Instead, it is often more helpful to explain the functional support needs that enable effective job performance. Example: Instead of "I have multiple sclerosis." Consider saying: "I work most effectively when I receive written task instructions and can use noise-cancelling headphones when needed."
When to share	The best time to discuss workplace support depends on individual circumstances. Some people may need adjustments during recruitment or onboarding, while others may decide to discuss them after starting work.
Who to share with	Different people have different roles. HR professionals may help arrange workplace adjustments and ensure organisational procedures are followed. Managers often need practical information that supports day-to-day collaboration.
Why to share	The purpose of sharing information should always be practical and solution-focused. The goal is to identify the workplace adjustments or support that will help the learner perform their job successfully.

Practical activity

In this section, you will:

Complete the My First Meeting Worksheet to identify the questions and topics that are most important for your first meeting with your manager.
Use an AI Prompt to generate additional questions and improve your list while keeping it relevant to your own situation.
Review Marta's Case Study to see how these activities can be completed in a real-life workplace situation.

Together, these activities will help you prepare for your first meeting with your manager, reduce uncertainty and communicate more confidently during your first weeks at work.

Worksheet 3: First Meeting with the Manager
Your first meeting with your manager is an opportunity to ask questions, clarify expectations and discuss any workplace support that may help you succeed. Complete this worksheet before your meeting.
1. What would I like to understand? Tick the topics that are important for you.	☐ What will be expected from me during my first weeks? ☐ What are my main responsibilities? ☐ How will I receive tasks and instructions? ☐ How is feedback usually given? ☐ What are the team's communication preferences? ☐ What are the daily routines and priorities? ☐ Who should I contact if I need help? ☐ How can workplace support or reasonable accommodations be discussed? ☐ Other:.....
2. My questions Write the questions you would like to ask.	……. ……. …….
3. Information I Would Like to Share Think about what information may help your manager support you successfully.	I may want to explain: ☐ How I work best ☐ What helps me stay productive ☐ Any workplace adjustments that support my work ☐ My preferred communication style ☐ Other:....
4. My goal for this meeting	After the meeting, I would like to feel that: ☐ I understand what is expected from me. ☐ I know who to ask for help. ☐ I feel comfortable communicating with my manager. ☐ We have discussed any workplace support that may be helpful. ☐ Other:.............

AI-supported activity

Use AI Prompt C to generate additional questions and improve your list. AI can suggest questions, organise ideas and help you prepare for a respectful and productive conversation with their manager.

Review the AI suggestions critically, select the questions that are most relevant to your own situation and adapt them where necessary so that the final list reflects your own priorities and communication style.

AI Prompt C: “Act as an experienced career coach specialising in inclusive employment. I am preparing for my first meeting with my manager. Based on my professional profile and the fact that I have [briefly describe your disability or health condition if relevant], suggest 10 clear and practical questions that will help me: