Deciding What to Look For

Figuring out what sort of job to get is hard. There are lots of different jobs out there and you should find one that interests you and that you are qualified for. Of course you want to find a job where you'll make money and that you can do well, but you also want to make sure your work helps you develop new skills that you can use at future jobs.

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If you don’t know the answers, don't worry, most people don't! This page will help you think about things to consider and can help you answer these questions.

What Are Your Interests?

Interests are things you like. Try to think if your interests could become your future career. For example, if you have a blog and enjoy writing, maybe you could become a journalist. Plenty of other hobbies could become careers that are enjoyable and fulfilling. For example you might like

• Gardening
• Doing repairs around the house
• Playing video games
• Cooking

Interests can also be based on what subjects you like at school. If you are good at math, there are many career options for you in the sciences and engineering. You might not yet know how to do some things that interest you – for example, you may be interested in becoming a doctor, but haven’t yet started medical school – but the training and education is available if you want it.

Think about all of your interests and which ones you might want to use in the future at a job. There are many non-profit organizations that can help you explore your interests and begin planning a career. This list includes contact information for many organizations as well as descriptions of the services they provide.

What Are Your Skills?

Skills are things you already know how to do. Think about your skills and which ones you might want to use in a future job. For example, if you are already good with computers and you like to work with them, you may want to think about a career as a computer technician. Skills determine what types of jobs you can get right now.

Of course, if you don’t know how to do something, you can always learn how! Your current skills may limit the job you get today, but they don’t have to limit your long-term career goal. It just means that you will have to learn those skills through an education program or find a job that offers on-the-job training.

What Is Your Career Goal?

Each job you get is a stepping-stone. You will probably have many jobs before you reach your long-term career goal, and have plenty of experiences along the way. You want to make sure that the jobs you get help you reach your final goal.

This means that when you decide whether to apply for a job, think about whether it will help you reach your final goal. Here are some ways in which a job could help you reach your career goal:

• An entry-level job at a company in a field that interests you can lead to promotions at the same company or a higher-level job at another company after a few years.
• A job at a company that provides on-the-job training will help you learn skills you need to reach your long-term goal.
• Some jobs that aren’t directly related to your career goal will require you to practice skills that you will need for your dream job. For example, if you work at a store and help with customers, you will gain experience working with the public that can help you in many fields.
• Some companies will help you pay for your education.

How Much Money Do You Want to Make?

Money is one of the biggest factors in choosing a job. We all need money to pay our expenses. Some jobs pay a lot more than others. As a young person, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to get a job that will make you rich right away. However, if you have a long-term goal of making a lot of money, that may affect what sort of work you look for today.

For instance, if you want to become a lawyer, you are going to need to go to college and then law school. You'll also have to do internships at law firms. Other types of skilled work also pay well and require different types of preparation. For example, if you want to become an electrician, you may need to do an apprenticeship.

Some professions don't pay as much, but can be very satisfying. For example, if you become a teacher, you'll know that you are doing an important job that truly helps people.

What Is the Impact of Your Disability?

Depending on your disability, you may not be able to do certain jobs. For example, some jobs require heavy lifting and if your disability prevents you from lifting heavy objects, you may not be able to do that type of work.

Because of your disability, you may want to work from home, have a flexible schedule, or work part-time. Some jobs and employers will be more adaptable to these types of options. Some employers are actually looking for people who can make these sorts of adjustments to their schedules.

Think about these issues, because while employers are required to give you reasonable accommodations so that you can fulfill the obligations of your job, they are not required to change the fundamental duties of a job because of your disability.