Beyond High School: Looking for a Job

Related: Education, School, More TagsChildren with Learning Disabilities, Adults with learning disabilities, Fewer Tags

by Eileen Bailey
Friday, July 03, 2009

Prepare for Applications

Some employers will allow you to pick up an application and complete it at home, and then return it. If you have learning disabilities than may interfere with your ability to complete the application, this is a good idea. You may want to make a photocopy of the application first, allowing you to practice on the application before filling it out. This way, you will minimize cross-outs, mistakes or white out on the application, making it look neat when it is handed back in.

You may also want to search for a sample employment application on the internet. This can help you understand what type of information potential employers are looking for and you can practice completing the application before you begin your job search.

 Rehearse Interviews

The interview is, by far, the scariest part of the job seeking process. Sitting across from someone you don't know and having questions fired at you can be extremely frightening. Asking friends and relatives to practice this with you beforehand can help immensely. Most people have gone through a job interview at some point and would be able to play the part of the employer, asking you questions about your experience, your interests and why you should be hired.

Using the search engines again to find some of the top interview questions. Use a tape recorder to practice answering these questions. Employers like to see enthusiasm more than any other trait so be sure you sound excited about the opportunity, no matter what the opportunity may be.

Network for Opportunities

Many job openings never appear in the newspaper or on the internet. Many jobs are filled through networking. For example, a local store may have an opening for a cashier. The owner may talk to some friends and neighbors, asking if anyone knows of someone looking for a job. The job is filled with a friend's teenager and never makes it to the newspaper. Networking is an important part of the job search. Talk to all different people you may know, your parents may know and your friends may know. Let everyone know you are looking for a job, and what type of job you are looking for. You never know what may come up.

Follow Up

Potential employers can sometimes make their choice based not on the application or the interview but on follow up and persistence. After hading in an application, stop by or call to check on the status. Make sure, however, if an employer has requested no phone calls, you do not call. Stopping by once in a while to see whether they have made a decision can help you to get the job in the end. After an interview, send a thank you note indicating you appreciated the opportunity to meet with him or her. Taking a few minutes to follow up can make the difference between the employers choosing to give you or someone else the job.

Looking for a job is a difficult process and can be frustrating. Following these steps, however, might make the process easier and increase your chances of getting a job.