Presented by Debbie Swart and Will Ortega (California Department of Rehabilitation)

This class was conducted in both Spanish and English. Swart is an Employment Consultant, and Ortega a Rehabilitation Supervisor, at the California Department of Rehabilitation, and both have in depth knowledge of the California Department of Rehabilitation and the services it provides to people with disabilities. Their seminar provided information on how one can conduct his or her own Self Assessment for Employment.

They started with a section titled, "Identifying/Taking Inventory of Skills/Abilities." In this section, the consumer is given two options: one for job seekers with work experience, and one for those without work experience. Job seekers are encouraged to identify skills they have learned from past work experience, school, or volunteer work that can be transferred to other job settings. In order to find a job, the job seeker must know what they want to do. This could be knowledge gained through experience or an assessment skills test in order to focus on a specific field.

Conducting a Personal Assessment of Skills

In this workshop, each participant wrote down three to four of his or her skills and abilities. This made the discussion interactive and generated other related discussion topics. The workshop facilitators used the various abilities presented by participants to offer good examples of how job hunters can use their transferable skills as a focal point in their search for employment.

This exercise weaved in out of the discussion as the workshop progressed, touching on various options that the consumer might have or can use. The presenters emphasized the importance of identifying one's interests because doing this can help the service provider offer something to consumers that is more compatible with their lives. Ms. Swart stressed the importance of finding a job where one is comfortable, happy, and productive. A good work environment is more likely to lead to a productive work experience.

Setting Employment Goals

Setting employment goals or having a plan is also crucial for a successful job search. This segment focused on the issues one must consider before entering the job market. Based on the needs of the job seeker, the presenter provided a set of questions to ask before embarking on a job search.

1. How far are you willing to commute to work?
2. How will you get to work?
3. What type of schedule are you able to work?
4. How will work impact your family?
5. How will work impact your SSI/SSDI or other benefits you are currently receiving?
6. Do you want part time or full time work?
7. Considering your needs surrounding your disability, can you work part time or full time...discuss with your health care team, if necessary.
8. What type of work environment might be best for you?
9. Do you understand what your barriers to working might be? (Such as lack of confidence, childcare or transportation difficulties).
10. What type of job accommodations might you need?
11. Can you find work using your transferable skills?
12. What else would you need to do to make those transferable skills employable skills? For instance, if you had receptionist experience, what else might you need to do to prepare yourself to get a customer service job?
13. Do you know if you need additional education/training to achieve your goal?
14. Could you benefit from English as a Second Language (ESL) courses?
15. If you are currently with a company, can you set employment goals with that company by determining what promotional opportunities might exist?

In addition, informational interviews, job shadowing, paid/non-paid internships, and volunteer experience can all provide information about what duties are required in specific occupations. It is also very important to conduct some basic research on the current labor market in your area before setting employment goals to know what jobs might be available and to look for areas where career opportunities may be growing.

Using Resources

Finally, using a variety of job search strategies can help one gain employment. Networking is a very effective tool because people can use networking to make contacts that can lead to future employment. The Internet is another tool one can use in order to find a job. With the Internet, it is possible to send your resume to many different organizations at once. The web provides a good means for people to seek employment and to look for information on a specific organization.

Swart mentioned that job hunters could use the various career resources in their local states to facilitate their job search. There are many state and private organizations that help people find employment. Many of these services are provided at no cost to the consumer. Nevertheless, it is good to do your homework before you put yourself out in the job market.

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