What does Transition Planning for Employment mean?
Transition planning for employment covers skills necessary for many levels of employment (i.e. competetive, self-, customized, supported, sheltered). These skills may be in areas such as career exploration, job-matching, applying for jobs, being on-time, following directions, associating with colleagues, job-specific skills, etc.
People work for many reasons. The most important may be making money to pay for food, clothes, housing, phone, internet, utilities, and many other items! However, it can also help fill many more of our needs — work often provides us with opportunities for security, friendship and social groups, confidence, respect, achievement, and a sense of fulfillment. (Click here for an explanation of the hierarchy of human needs and motivation)
Unfortunately, people with disabilities are often unemployed or underemployed when compared to people without disabilities. One survey showed that “among all working-age (18-64) people with disabilities, only 21% say that they are employed full or part-time, compared to 59% of working age people without disabilities — a gap of 38 percentage points” (Kessler Foundation/NOD Survey, 2010). Additionally, young adults with disabilities reported earning almost 30% less per hour than their same-age, non-disabled peers (National Longitudinal Transtion Study-2).
However, active transition planning for employment can help remedy these problems!
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Good hygiene
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Communication skills
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Good attitude
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Willingness to learn
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Practice filling out various job related forms
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Know your demographic information (or have it easily available) — name, address, phone number, email,etc.
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Fill out a sample job application
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Fill out applications from jobs you are actually interested in!
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Work on planning and building a resume
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Resume templates for use in Microsoft Word
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Tips for writing effective resumes
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Examples of good and bad resumes
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Develop interviewing skills
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List of common interview questions and possible answers
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Video of good and bad interview responses
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Know how to dress appropriately (examples from SimplyHired and About.com)
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Practice interviewing with teachers, counselors, family, etc.
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Get a job while in school (one of the greatest predictors of having a job after high school is having a job while in school!)
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Finish school (many studies have shown that high school completers are much more likely to be employed than those who drop out, and to make more money!)
(Content above obtained from Davis School District .)
