Getting a job is a great option after you finish high school or college. It lets you earn money, make new friends, and feel satisfied that you are contributing to society. However, it isn't your only option. Getting more education is another option. You could also join the military, travel to another country, do volunteer work, or find another way to fulfill your interests.

There are many factors that can help you decide if you want to look for a job now. Here are some things to consider:

• The independence a job would give you
• The money you would make
• The impact that working would have on your benefits
• Whether getting a job now will help you reach your long-term goals

Independent Living

A major key to being able to make your own decisions and live independently is having the money you need to afford your choices. Perhaps the biggest reason to get a job is that once you are earning your own money, you'll truly be able to begin leading your own life. Independent living means you decide how you want to live your life; you get to choose how you spend your time, who your friends are, and where you live.

Work also lets you meet new friends, see new places, and learn new things, which are all keys to independent living. The independence that work gives you will allow you more options on how to spend your time and more opportunities to join in the day-to-day activities of your community.

Independent living does not mean that you have to know all the answers or do everything by yourself; it means that you need to learn how to find resources that can help you reach your goals. You also need to learn to be in charge of how you use these resources.

Finances

Money is usually a factor in choosing what you want to do. For example, if you got a lot of student loans to go to college and have just graduated, you need to make sure that you repay them. Other things you might need money for include rent, a car, or everyday expenses like food.

If you or your family has enough money that you don't need a job to pay for immediate expenses, you can still decide to get a job. Or you can consider other options like going back to school, doing an internship, or volunteering. Education and internships are discussed in detail in DB101’s article on Getting a Higher Education, while volunteering is discussed later in this article.

Impact on Benefits

A lot of people who get disability benefits, like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medi-Cal, worry that if they get a job, they'll lose their benefits and won't be able to pay for their expenses or their medical treatments. It’s true that getting a job could impact your benefits, but that should not stop you from getting a job!

After getting a job, you’ll have more money than before and you will still have health coverage. And if you lose your job, you'll have the option of getting back on benefits. How to report your job income to benefits agencies and how your income will impact your benefits is explained in Young People – Working.

Reaching Your Long-Term Goals

There are many different long-term goals you might have. Your goal might be simply to make enough money to live independently or to save for your future. Or you might want to meet new people or travel. Working can be a great way to make progress on all of your goals in life.

You should also have a long-term career goal. Having a clearly stated goal means you can take the appropriate steps to reach your goal. If getting a job helps you advance your long-term goal, then now is the time to find a job.

However, many careers require that you get a higher education first. For example, if you want to become a teacher, you'll need to get a college degree; so going to college first may be a better choice. Of course, you may want to work so that you can earn money to pay for college. Educational options and how to pay for them are discussed more in DB101’s article on Getting a Higher Education.

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

To print this worksheet, click here.

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 to do the following:

• 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 do in the future at a job. There are many nonprofit organizations that can help you explore your interests and begin planning a career. America's Job Centers of California (AJCCs), formerly known as One-Stops, can help you figure out what sort of work you’d like to do. Find a local America's Job Center of California (AJCC) (One-Stop).

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 help you decide 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 can 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, you need to 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 offers 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 and that skill can help you in many fields.
• A job at a company that 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 impact what sort of work you look for today.

For instance, if you want to become a lawyer, you first need to go to college and then to 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 they 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.

How Does Your Disability Influence Your Job Choice?

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! While employers must supply you with reasonable accommodations so that you can fulfill the obligations of your job, employers do not have to change the fundamental duties of a job because of your disability.

As you think about a long-term career goal, you’ll realize that the careers that interest you probably require more education or training than you currently have. And once you get a job, you will need to learn more new skills so that you can advance in your career, accept new responsibilities, get promotions, and earn more money.

You can get training and experience in many different ways, and you need to decide which are best for you based on the career you hope to develop. You can learn about your options in many ways, such as:

• Talking to friends and family
• Doing research online or at the library
• Doing informational interviews
• Attending career fairs in your area

Once you know what you need, you can get training and experience that can help you get the job you want. You could try:

• Volunteering
• Being an intern
• Doing an apprenticeship

Then, when you start working, you will have even more chances to learn new skills. For example, you could:

• Get on-the-job training
• Learn from a mentor, either at your workplace or outside of it
• Have a job coach

Here we’ll discuss some of these ways of getting experience.

Informational Interviews

A great way to learn more about a career option is to talk to somebody who works in that field. Talking to somebody to learn about a profession is called an “informational interview.” If you already know somebody who works in the field that you’re interested in, talk to that person. If you don't know anybody, you can ask your friends or family if they know people who work in that field.

When you find somebody to talk to, dress nicely and be polite. Even though this is an informal conversation, you want to make a good impression because this person may be able to help you get a job later. By talking to somebody who actually has the job you are interested in, you will get a much better idea about how to get that job and what it is like. Here are a few questions to ask during an informational interview:

• What steps did you take to get your job?
• What kind of training was needed?
• How long did it take for you to get to your current level at work?
• Do you have any suggestions for how I could get started?

As you discuss your interests with more people, you will learn a lot about how to develop your interests into a career. You will also make valuable contacts who may be able to help you get an internship, do job shadowing, or be your mentor. If you are lucky, the person you do your informational interview with may even be able to help you find a job!

Career Fairs

Career fairs are events where many employers are present and want to talk with potential employees. Career fairs are a great chance for you to learn about different industries. Take copies of your resume to the fair in case you learn about a job that you want to apply for. Dress nicely and act professionally when you go to a career fair. Don’t chew gum, use inappropriate language, or do anything you wouldn't do at a job. This is a chance for you to show potential employers that you would be a good employee. To find a job or career fair near you, click here.

Volunteering

When you volunteer, you work for an organization without getting paid. Volunteering is a great way to do important work, get experience, learn new skills, and make contacts who might be able to help you get a paying job in the future.

Another good thing about doing volunteer work is that you can put it on your resume. If you look for a job in the same field as the volunteer work that you did, potential employers will see that you have experience. Even if you apply for a job in a different field, the potential employer will see that you have work experience and are a hard-working, dedicated person.

Volunteer Match is a good website for looking for volunteer possibilities. Another option is to simply contact an organization that does work that you think is important and see whether they need volunteers to help them with their work.

Internships

An internship is a program designed to give you experience. As an intern, you work at a job for a limited time, anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on the program. You gain work experience that can help you decide if you like the type of work. An internship also allows you to learn new skills and make new friends. There are 3 big differences between an internship and a normal job:

1. Internships are designed to give you training while you work, which means that you often get exposed to a wide variety of activities.
2. Not all internships pay.
3. Many internships are only available to students.

You can get more information about internships and how to find them in DB101’s article on Getting a Higher Education.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are basically on-the-job training. They are structured programs that teach you a skilled occupation, craft, or trade. Apprenticeship programs can help you learn how to become a carpenter, plumber, electrician, or get another skilled job. There are also apprenticeships at factories, electrical plants, and in other technical fields.

During the apprenticeship, you gain skills through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction. Once you complete your apprenticeship, you will get a certificate for the field in which you have specialized. You may also be offered a job at the company where you did the apprenticeship. To learn more about how apprenticeships can lead to jobs, click here.

To do an apprenticeship, you must be at least 16 years old and have a high school diploma or be pursuing a GED. To find an apprenticeship program, click here.

On-the-Job Training

A lot of jobs that require specialized training offer on-the-job training, because the knowledge you need is specific to that workplace. On-the-job training means that your employer teaches you the skills you need to do your job. In this way, you’ll actually get paid to learn! On-the-job training can be structured or informal. For example, your employer may want you to complete a training program, or may just have one of your coworkers show you what you need to do.

Learning from a Mentor

Mentors are people who offer you guidance and support. If you have a career goal, it is great to have a mentor who works in that field show you exactly what his or her work is like and help you figure out how to get a job.

A mentor:

• Helps you understand what it takes to enter a field
• Offers support while you gain training and search for a position
• May be able to help you get a foot in the door at a company in the future
• Serves as a personal reference when you apply for jobs, and
• Once you get a job, can give you ongoing support and advice.

Mentorships can be in person or can be done over the phone or email. You may be able to find a mentor through family or friends, but there are also other resources that can help you find a mentor:

• Your local Independent Living Center
• Youth Organizing! (YO!) Disabled and Proud, which focuses on helping youth with disabilities get educated, connected, and organized
• University programs, like the University of California at Berkeley’s TRIO program, which are specifically set up to build mentoring relationships

Job Coach

When you get a job, a job coach can help you learn how to do your job and make sure you adapt well to the work environment. Your job coach can also help you with work-related concerns, such as how to talk to your boss about questions you have and what accommodations you may need. You might have a job coach through your Ticket to Work program, the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), or through another one of the agencies described later in this article.

Finding a job is hard. However, it is possible if you are patient and work hard at it. Here we will discuss some of the ways that you can look for a job.

Talk to People

The most common way to find a job is by talking to people. Talk to your friends, family, professors, and other people you know. Let them know that you are looking for work and what type of job you want. Ask them to let you know if they hear about an opportunity.

If you know somebody who has a good job, see if that person knows about job openings at his or her workplace. If you like a company or organization and want to work there, contact them! Even if they don’t have any job openings, you may be able to arrange an informational interview to learn more about the type of work they do and the best way to find a job in that field.

Job Listings

In addition to talking to people, numerous websites can also help you find work. One way to look for work online is to simply search for “job listings” on an Internet search engine. Your search results will include links to many of the websites that specialize in jobs in your area.

A particularly good website for finding jobs in California is CalJobs. It lists many jobs and also lets you post your resume online where employers can find it.

Job Programs

It can be difficult looking for and finding a job if you think you have to do it all on your own. Fortunately, you can get help from some excellent organizations:

• America's Job Centers of California (AJCCs), formerly known as One-Stops, offer the tools, resources, and services you need for your employment, training, and other work-related needs. Find a local America's Job Center of California (AJCC) (One-Stop).
• In California, the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) can help you prepare for, find, and keep a job. To be eligible, you must have a physical or mental disability that makes it difficult for you to prepare for, get, or keep work.
• DOR also has services for people who are blind or visually impaired and services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Ticket to Work Program

If you are over the age of 18 and get disability benefits from Social Security, the Ticket to Work Program can help you learn about job options and maybe give working a try. It helps you find a job and see if you like it without losing your health coverage benefits. If your disability gets worse and you need to stop working, you can easily get back on cash benefits.

Ticket to Work can help you:

• Figure out what sort of job you would be successful at
• Get training
• Find work
• Get job coaching
• Get continuing support once you get a job to help you be successful

To participate, you need to contact an agency that offers Ticket to Work services. A couple of examples are the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and America's Job Centers of California (AJCCs). To learn more, see DB101’s article about the Ticket to Work Program.

Customized Employment

Traditionally, people who want to work need to look for jobs that they are qualified for, apply for them in competition with others, and then perform the tasks that they are assigned. Customized employment approaches finding work from a different perspective. In customized employment, an organization or a person, like a vocational rehabilitation counselor, helps create a connection between you and a potential employer or employers. The counselor then helps you and the employer figure out what sort of work you could best do at the place of employment. Talk to your vocational rehabilitation counselor to learn more.

Applying for jobs is a lot of work. As you send applications to different employers, you won’t even get replies from a lot of them! You may have to apply for 10 or more jobs before you even get a chance at an interview. Don’t worry, this is normal; it’s hard for even the most qualified jobseekers to find a job. Still, if you are persistent, you will succeed in finding a job, even if it takes a while.

To apply for some jobs, you will have to fill out forms. Other jobs will require you to prepare a resume and write a cover letter about why you believe that you are a good fit for the job. If the employer reviews your resume or application form and is interested in hiring you, you will also have to do an interview.

Preparing a Resume

A resume is one of the most important ways you will tell potential employers about yourself. You should include several main categories of information on your resume:

• Your name and contact information, including your phone number, address, and email address.
• A work experience section that lists jobs you've held, including your exact job title, the place you worked, and a short description of the work you did. You can also list volunteer work.
• An education section that lists schools you have attended and degrees you have earned, including college, technical school, or high school. It can also mention any honors you were awarded.
• A skills section that lists the skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for. For example, if you speak a language in addition to English, mention it in this section. Also mention specific computer skills you have, such as knowing how to use Microsoft Office or other software. Young people who don’t have long work histories should emphasize this section.

The exact information you choose to include may vary, depending on the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a job at an office, you may choose to give details only about other office jobs you've done, or to list only office skills you know, like typing and computer use. However, it wouldn't hurt to include all of your experiences if you think it is useful information.

Job programs, mentors, and job coaches are great sources to help you develop your resume. Here are some good online resources that can also help with your resume:

• PACER has resume tips and a worksheet for young people with disabilities.
• The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has a worksheet for writing your resume.

Writing a Cover Letter

When you apply for a job, you’ll probably have to write a letter explaining why the employer should hire you. This letter is challenging because it should be short (a page or less), but at the same time should help you show off your skills.

The first thing your cover letter shows is your ability as a writer. This means that you need to make sure that it has proper grammar, that all the words are spelled correctly, and that it doesn’t include any factual errors.

The second thing the letter tells a potential employer is how much time and energy you spent writing the letter. If your letter really talks about things that are specifically related to the job you’re applying for, they’ll know that you spent time thinking about the job. Once the person who reviews your cover letter sees that you are a good writer and put energy into your letter, then they’ll think about the actual words you wrote.

A cover letter gives you the chance to give the employer information that you didn’t include on your resume, or perhaps to emphasize something that is on it. It all depends on you and the job you’re applying for. For tips about writing a cover letter and some example letters, click here. You don’t need to write a completely different cover letter for every job you apply for. Usually you can reuse portions of a letter you have written previously. However, it is very important that you make sure that your cover letter includes some details that are specific to the job you are applying for, such as the name of the company, the job title, and that it does not accidentally include information that is specific to a different company or job!

Having an Interview

One important step in getting a job is the job interview. From the perspective of potential employers, interviews are important because they give the employer information about you that they don’t get through your resume, cover letter, or references; they get a glimpse of you, especially your presence, honesty, morals and professionalism.

Before you go to the interview, you need to prepare yourself well. Here are some important steps to take:

• Research the employer extensively. Read their website so that you know what they do and talk to people you know who work at the company or in the same field so that you understand exactly the skills and needs that companies like this have.
• Practice interviewing with a friend or career counselor. For strategies for answering common interview questions that you can practice, click here.
• Take care of the little things. Plan your travel to the interview location and give yourself enough time to get there a little bit early. Dress and act professionally. Turn off your cell phone. Don’t chew gum during the interview. Don’t smoke just before the interview. Bring a copy of your resume and references. These little details are not things that by themselves will get you a job, but, if you don’t do them, they are things that could prevent you from getting a job.
• If you need an accommodation in order to do an interview, make sure to request it. The employer interviewing you is required to supply you with reasonable accommodations. To learn more about reasonable accommodations, click here.

The key is to always have a positive attitude, both during your preparation and during the interview. After the interview, send a thank-you email or note to the person who interviewed you.