Whether you are planning for your first career or searching for a new focus around which to organize your work life, it is important to pursue a career that will help you meet your financial needs, that you will be able to do well, and that will be satisfying to you. It is also important to take steps to develop your skills in new ways. It is great to find a job that you enjoy doing, but it is also important to think about how what you are doing now will help prepare you for your long-term goals.

Even if you have a long way to go before you reach your ultimate goal, thinking about your long-term career goals can help you to focus your current job search. But you don’t have to know exactly where you want to end up. Each job you have will help you learn more about your interests, acquire new skills, and develop your long-term goals.

Thinking carefully about the skills and interests that you have now is a good way to begin your search for a satisfying job. Below are some tools designed to help you get a clear picture of your interests and skills.

Discovery: Understand Yourself

Self Assessment/Personal Inventory

The Job Accommodation Network has an excellent guide called Finding a Job that is Right for You: A Practical Approach to Looking for a Job as a Person with a Disability. The guide provides information that can help you with each step of your job search process.

The guide begins with a series of exercises to help you learn more about what is important to you, your interests and strengths, and what you need from a job. Each one includes a completed example to look at.

Each one has a slightly different focus:

• The Job Priority List helps you organize lists of the things you are most interested in and the features of jobs that are most important to you.
• The Overcoming Obstacles Worksheet is designed to help you anticipate possible obstacles you may find when searching for work. Thinking of solutions to problems that you might run into before you get started on your job search can help make your job search easier and more effective.
• The Personal Inventory Worksheet is designed to help you begin building a resume by organizing your experiences to show your interests and strengths.

Self-Assessment Resources

There are many tools available to help you learn more about your likes, dislikes, and how your personality fits with different work settings and occupations. Different types of assessment tools work differently and focus on different things.

A great place for self-assessment tools is the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop website. The site's Career Exploration Page includes a section on self-assessments and a discussion of why they are helpful to job-seekers.

CareerCircle is also an excellent resource for job seekers with disabilities.

Talking to a Career Counselor

It can be hard to choose from all the different self-assessment tools. It can also be difficult to know what to do with the results once you have them. There are people available to help you choose the right test, understand what the test results mean, and help you get started with your career planning.

Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists are available at a Minnesota CareerForce location near you.

Your Individual Needs

Interests and skills are important to determining what type of work you might like to do, but it is also important to know what you need your job to do for you. A good way to explore the financial and other benefits you need from a job is to complete the Personal Needs Assessment Worksheet available at the Job Accommodation Network site.

Reasonable Accommodation

If your disability makes aspects of your job difficult, you may want to ask for a reasonable accommodation. A reasonable accommodation is any change in the work environment or in the way things are usually done to assure you have the same employment opportunities as a person who does not have disabilities.

Reasonable accommodations can include modifications to the facility, changes in the job process, and assistive technology allowing you to perform at the expected performance standards.

An accommodation request is usually initiated by you and may be requested verbally or in writing. Information on how to put your request in writing is available at the JAN website.

If you have developed strategies or have used equipment to successfully accommodate your disability, then you may want to share this with your employer. However, if you have not needed an accommodation before and do not know where to start, call the Job Accommodation Network (JAN). JAN is a free service that offers accommodation experts to help guide you through the accommodation process. JAN also has a website with publications containing accommodation suggestions for different situations and an interactive website called the Searchable Online Accommodation Resource (SOAR). SOAR asks you about your situation and then leads you to accommodation suggestions, including information on where to buy a product if one is suggested.

Finding Careers that Match Your Strengths and Interests

Once you have a clearer picture of your skills and areas of interest, you’ll need to figure out what type of position might suit you. The sites below have tools designed to help you match your interests with possible jobs. They also have information on what types of education and training you may need in order to prepare for the career you are interested in. Even if you already have a job or career in mind, it is a good idea to explore the sites below. They may suggest a career option you hadn’t thought of, but that is a good match for your interests.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s O*Net Online provides a helpful set of tools for searching for careers. O*Net allows you to search for jobs that use a specific skill, tool, or software. It also allows you to browse groups of similar occupations which lets you learn about jobs that are related to the one you are interested in.

• CareerConnect, from the American Printing House for the Blind, is a great site that allows you to browse careers by field or interest area. It also allows you to explore specific careers and provides extensive information about the knowledge, interests, skills, and abilities necessary for each position.
• CareerOneStop’s education and training page includes information on the education requirements and training needs of different occupations.
• Although it is aimed at high school students, Exploring Career Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is an excellent tool for anyone exploring careers. The site is designed to help you use your current interests to find and explore different careers.
• My Perfect Resume's Career Planning Page, provides links to an extensive set of sites designed to help you explore careers and occupations and choose a career path.
• The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Career Exploration Site provides links to let you investigate different careers, and find the education and training required for positions.
• Careers and the disABLED magazine has in-depth articles and information on various career options.

What Does the Future Look Like for the Type of Job You Are Seeking?

Before you become too focused on a specific career it is good to understand the prospects for finding employment in that area.

CareerOneStop has information on:

• Industries with the Highest Growth
• Industries with the Fastest Growth
• The Occupations with the Largest Employment
• The Highest Paying Occupations
• Wages and Employment Trends by Occupation, Job, and State
• Wages by Education Level

In addition to resources for exploring careers and for job searching, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has information on occupations:

• That are expected to suffer the largest wage and employment declines
• That are expected to experience the largest growth in total number of jobs
• That are expected to grow the fastest

The best way to explore a career that you think you may want to pursue is to talk to people who do the work or find an opportunity to try the work yourself. Start by talking to many people about the type of career you are interested in. Ask them to put you in contact with anyone they know who works in the field. As you discuss your interests with more people you will gain insight into the career. You will also make valuable contacts who may be able to help you gain experience in the field through internships, job shadowing, and mentoring. When it comes time to seek employment, these early contacts will all be valuable people to speak with about possible positions.

Career fairs bring many employers together at once. They are great places to apply for jobs or just to learn about what industries are hiring and what types of positions are available. Visit the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to find a job or career fair near you.

Career Days hosted by local schools and community colleges are also good places to talk to a variety of different employers and learn about different industries.

Apprenticeships, internships, volunteering, working with a mentor, and job shadowing are also excellent ways to learn about different jobs or industries when you are beginning a new career. They are also important opportunities to meet people who may be able to help you find employment and show them that you are a good worker with a sincere interest in the field.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships provide a structured way to learn a skilled occupation, craft, or trade. During the apprenticeship, you gain skills through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction. Get more information about state-approved apprenticeship programs.

CareerOneStop has information about apprentice programs on their Apprenticeship Page.

Internships

Internships are short-term work experiences that allow you to gain practical skills and learn about an occupation in a real-world setting. Many schools and colleges have extensive programs to help you find an internship in the area you are learning about. Get more information about internships.

Some internship programs, such as The Workforce Recruitment Program from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy, were specifically developed for students and recent graduates with disabilities.

Entry Point is a program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that provides outstanding internship opportunities for students with disabilities in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and some fields of business.

Internship websites that are not specifically focused on opportunities for people who are disabled include InternJobs.com, USAJobs, which provides information on federal government job opportunities for students and recent graduates, and InternshipPrograms.com.

Volunteering

Volunteering provides an opportunity to contribute to an organization while gaining new skills and experiences. It is an excellent way to gain an understanding of a wide range of careers, particularly in nonprofit and medical settings. Because volunteering allows you to show your skills and abilities, it can lead to employment opportunities. Volunteer Match is a website that can help you find opportunities for volunteering in your area.

Mentors

Mentors are people who provide guidance to someone interested in pursuing a career similar to theirs. A mentor can help you understand what it takes to enter a field, provide support while you gain training and search for a position, and give you ongoing support and advice once you are working.

Job Shadowing

Job Shadowing involves following someone while they work. This allows you to experience the day-to-day reality of working in a particular job or industry without having to commit to the job or invest in education and training.

Traditional Work Options

Full or Part-time Employment

CareerOneStop is a good place to begin seeing what types of jobs are available that match your interests. They have a general list of the largest Job Banks and Job Portals.

The federal government’s official job site is USAJOBS. On its Individuals with Disabilities page, the site provides an extensive list of resources for job seekers with disabilities.

Self-Employment

Self-employment is an appealing option for many people with disabilities. If you are good at planning and organizing and you have the discipline to work for yourself, self-employment may be for you. Because it allows you to be your own boss, create work hours that fit your needs, and gives you freedom from disability and access related barriers such as transportation issues, inaccessible work environments, and the need for personal assistance, many people find it an appealing option.

Starting a business can be an intimidating challenge, but there are people out there who can help you. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), provides individualized technical assistance, consulting, and mentoring services to individuals with disabilities, family members, and service providers. JAN consultants handle each inquiry on a case-by-case basis, offering self-employment and small business development expertise and referrals regarding all aspects of entrepreneurship. Among these are business planning, financing strategies, marketing research, disability-specific programs, income supports and benefits planning, e-commerce, independent contracting, home-based business options, and small business initiatives for disabled veterans. JAN's services are available free of charge through their toll-free numbers 1-800-526-7234 (V); 877-781-9403 (TTY) or 1-800-232-9675/V/TTY; and their web site’s Entrepreneurship Page.

An extensive self-assessment process for individuals with disabilities that are considering self-employment has been developed by The Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities.

Temporary Employment

Temporary employment can be a great way to gain experience and start a career. If you are returning to work after some time out of the workforce, letting a temporary agency assist you in finding employment can help you re-enter the workforce, gain new skills, and reorient you to the job market. If you have been out of the workforce for awhile, temporary work is also an easy way to update your resume and add recent work history.

If you sign up with a temporary agency or staffing service, they will match you with short-term or temporary-to-permanent positions. Although you may not initially think of temporary work as appealing, it can have several benefits:

• It will allow you to learn new skills and earn money while you continue searching for a full-time position.
• You may be able to get more flexible hours or working conditions to fit your personal situation.
• It will help you gain work experience, develop skills, obtain training, and make new contacts.
• Perhaps most importantly, temporary work will allow you to check out an employer or an occupation before making a commitment to training, a particular career, or a particular employer.

CareerOneStop has an extensive list of temporary agencies, staffing services, and job recruiters.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) has an interesting discussion of the use of temporary employment options by people with disabilities.

Self-Designed Work Options

Customized Employment

Customized employment considers job seekers as whole people, taking into account their skills, interests, abilities, and the conditions they need to be successful in employment, including job support. Customized employment connects job seekers with businesses where the career makes sense. It also encourages employers to examine their specific workforce needs and to fill those needs with a well-matched employee.

Customized employment involves careful consideration. But it provides job seekers with a chance to help discover a job that suits their skills and lets them make an essential contribution to a business. It also increases the productivity of the business by finding job candidates to fill positions that improve overall production in the workplace.

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) offers information, resources, and guidance on its Customized Employment page.

Telecommuting or Telework

Telecommuting is an appealing option for many people and it can have special advantages for people with disabilities. Telecommuting reduces or eliminates travel and commuting, often allows for a more flexible work schedule, and facilitates work for people with significant mobility issues.

One site that may be particularly helpful is the National Telecommuting Institute, which has a program that matches Americans with disabilities who require home-based work with available opportunities.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has a fact sheet discussing working at home and telework as a reasonable accommodation.

Education and Training

The career that interests you may require more education or training than you currently have. It is also likely that once you begin your career, you will want to gain new skills. New skills may be necessary to allow you to advance in your career, accept new responsibilities, and earn more money.

A good place to start learning about opportunities is the Education and Training Page of CareerOneStop. You can also read DB101's Getting a Higher Education.

Apprenticeships, Internships, Volunteering, Mentoring

As discussed in the Explore Your Options Section, there are several excellent ways to learn about different jobs or industries when you are beginning a new career.

Apprenticeships provide a structured way to learn a skilled occupation, craft, or trade. During the apprenticeship, you gain skills through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction. Get more information about state-approved apprenticeship programs.

Internships are short-term work experiences that allow you to gain practical skills and learn about an occupation in a real-world setting. Get more information about internships.

Volunteering provides an opportunity to contribute to an organization while gaining new skills and experiences. It is an excellent way to gain an understanding of a wide range of careers, particularly in nonprofit and medical settings.

Mentors are people who provide guidance to someone interested in pursuing a career similar to theirs. A mentor can help you understand what it takes to enter a field, provide support while you gain training and search for a position, and give you ongoing support and advice once you are working.

Americorps programs also offer a range of volunteer and work opportunities. Americorps programs can be a great place to start your career because they give you real responsibility, teach valuable skills, and provide several excellent benefits. Learn more about Americorps on their website. Visit ServeMinnesota to learn more about how to do AmeriCorps in Minnesota.

Each of these opportunities is discussed more fully in DB101's Young People and Benefits: Finding a Job article.

Self-Advocacy

Work is a significant part of your life and it is important that you make your own decisions about what type of work you want to do. Being a self-advocate means speaking up about the important decisions in your life and being in control of decisions about your life.

If you have a career that you find interesting and satisfying, it can become a great source of purpose, enjoyment, and self-confidence. The best way to make sure you find satisfying work is to make sure that your job search stays focused on your interests and the type of work that you enjoy doing.

Part of the process of self-advocacy involves improving your job seeking skills so that you are more in charge of your employment search process. Focus on core issues first such as improving your resume, writing a clear cover letter, and taking advantage of opportunities to meet people who might help you with your job search. Other important skills are interview preparation and interview skills.

Comprehensive sites such as HireAbility.com and CareerOneStop.org have articles on job-seeking skills. The Job Accommodation Network Job Seekers Guide also has a page discussing these issues.

For in-person help with job search skills, you can work with the Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists at your local Minnesota CareerForce location.

Available Assistance

In addition to the list of general Job Banks and Job Portals provided by CareerOneStop, there are several disability specific job banks.

DisABLED Person allows individuals to connect with future employers by posting their resume and finding detailed information about potential jobs.

HireAbility.com provides a job search database, career tools, and a site where you can post your resume.

The Workforce Recruitment Program helps connect college students and recent graduates with disabilities with federal and private-sector jobs.

Local Resources

There are several local resources available to help you with your job search and career planning. We will discuss three here: Minnesota CareerForce, Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and Minnesota State Services for the Blind.

Check this section’s Next Steps Page for more local resources.

Minnesota CareerForce

Minnesota CareerForce locations can help you with your job search or career planning. There are nearly 50 CareerForce locations statewide. Each one has a knowledgeable staff to guide you. Each provides essential tools to make your job search a success. Most services are free of charge.

All CareerForce locations have assistive technology to help you use their services and resources. Minnesota CareerForce also has staff who are available to help people with disabilities access CareerForce location services.

Services Provided

All CareerForce locations have staff that can tell you about the services offered at the location and any special services that might be available to you. They can help you use online job banks and other employment websites such as statewide job banks. CareerForce staff can also give you advice about local employers that are hiring, teach you the basics of conducting a job search, and help you with your resume.

All CareerForce locations have office equipment that will help you in your job search, such as: telephones; photocopy machines; computers with internet access; printers, and fax machines.

Each CareerForce location also has a library with books about how to search for a job, how to write resumes and cover letters, how to interview effectively, and which industries and jobs are expected to offer good prospects for the future.

Assistive Technology

All CareerForce locations have assistive technology to help you use their services and resources.

Each location has a TTY for people who are deaf or have hearing impairments, and access to speech-to-speech service for people with speech impairments.

Other available assistive technology includes:

• Closed Caption Decoder-Enabled TV/VCR
• Job Access with Speech (JAWS) for Windows
• Okay Vision Aide Corporation (OVAC) Reader
• Pocket Talker Personal Amplifier
• ZoomText Software

CareerForce Locations

Visit a Minnesota CareerForce location near you, or call 1-651-259-7501.

Courses, Workshops and Trainings

CareerForce locations offer various events throughout the year.

Each CareerForce location offers a variety of workshops to help you with your job search and career planning. Examples of these workshops include: Interviewing Skills; Networking; Internet Job Searches; Completing Job Applications, and; Writing Effective Resumes and Cover Letters. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has a schedule of workshops and training sessions being offered throughout the state.

Career fairs bring many employers together at once. They are great places to apply for jobs or just to learn about what industries are hiring and what types of positions are available. Visit the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) to find a job or career fair near you.

Other excellent courses, workshops, and training on career planning and skills are offered through local community colleges, community education departments, and nonprofit groups.

Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation Services can provide you with a wide variety of counseling, training, job skills and job placement services. They can help you get the training or other services that you need to return to work, to enter a new line of work, or to enter the workforce for the first time. The services they provide to you are carefully chosen to match your individual needs. You and your counselor will work together closely to set goals and then develop a plan to help you reach them.

Eligibility

Eligibility is based mostly on whether you have a physical or mental disability that makes it difficult to prepare for, get or keep work.

People who receive Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are automatically eligible.

Minnesota Rehabilitation Services sometimes does not have enough resources to provide services to every person who is eligible to receive them. People who have the most severe disabilities will receive services first.

Cost

All services will be free if you are eligible for a Ticket to Work, or if you receive:

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on your own disability
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) based on your own disability
• MFIP/TANF
• General Assistance (GA)
• Medical Assistance (MA)

How to Apply

To apply for services, you can call or visit a vocational rehabilitation counselor at a Minnesota CareerForce location.

Minnesota State Services for the Blind (SSB)

If you have a vision loss, the Workforce Development Unit of Minnesota State Services for the Blind (SSB) can help you prepare for, find and keep a job, and live as independently as possible.

Rehabilitation Counseling

If you have a significant vision loss that makes it hard for you to get and keep a job, you may be eligible for a variety of counseling, training, job skills, and job placement services from SSB.

Services vary depending on your individual needs. SSB counselors will work with you to determine which services you will need to reach your job goal.

After you have decided on a goal and figured out what services you might need to reach it, you work with a counselor to make a plan that will get you to your goal. SSB counselors know about vision loss and understand workplace demands so they can help you choose which options are the best for you.

For more information about SSB Rehabilitation Counseling, call 1-651-539-2300 or 1-800-652-9000.

Eligibility and Application for Services

Eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services from the Workforce Development Unit of Minnesota State Services for the Blind (SSB), is based on several criteria. The main thing you must have to qualify is a significant vision loss. People who receive SSI or SSDI because of their vision loss are automatically eligible.

The Department of Employment and Economic Development provides a list of local SSB offices. To discuss your eligibility and the programs or services that might be available to you, or to ask for an application for services, you can:

• Call 1-651-539-2373or 1-800-652-9000 and ask to speak with someone in the Workforce Development Unit, or
• Fill out the SSB Information Request form online and a member of the SSB staff will contact you.