Where can I find a list of jobs that are available?
How can I find out what kind of job would match my skills?
Where can I find out what kind of skills or training I need to perform a job?
Where can I get information on how to write an effective resume?
What kinds of questions will I be asked in an interview?
Should I disclose my disability to a potential employer?
Where can I get funding for a job accommodation?
Where can I get information about how to start my own business?
Will working affect my Social Security and Quest insurance?
How can I save up money for things I need if they take away my Social Security as soon as I get a job?

Where can I find a list of jobs that are available?

Online job banks have a list of various jobs that are available. These listings provide information on qualifications and skills required to do the job. Most job banks ask you to register by entering some basic information about yourself. They then use the information to find available jobs for you in your area. You can also submit your resume online so potential employers may be able to review your qualifications. Visit the Guide to Employment for Job Seekers: Job Banks to find different national and local job banks that are online.

Back to Top

How can I find out what kind of job would match my skills?

There are career assessment tools available that can help you assess your work interests, work style and work preferences. These tools can help in finding the right job match for you. You can also meet with career counselors who can help you plan and make decisions related to your career goals.

The Career Key is an online self-reporting career assessment tool that measures your skills, abilities, values, interests and personality. You can try it out for free at Career Key . You need to remember that self-reporting career assessment tools do not substitute for career counseling provided by a licensed professional counselor. If you would like to discuss your goals with a career counselor, the National Board of Certified Counselors has a web site that can help you find career counselors in your area.

Back to Top

Where can I find out what kind of skills I need to perform a job?

O*Net Online is an occupational information network that provides you with information on specific skills you would need to be successful in your job or career.

Back to Top

Where can I get information on how to write an effective resume?

There are many online resources available to help you write a resume. The Monster.com Resume Center provides valuable tips on resume writing, Do's and Don'ts, as well as sample resumes that you can use.

Another resource is the ABA Staffing's Career Guide. This site provides information on how to write a resume. It also gives examples of good resumes and mistakes that are made when writing one. There are also ideas for making your resume more effective.

Back to Top

What kinds of questions will I be asked in an interview?

The person who interviews you for a job will ask you questions about your skills, abilities and background to try to determine whether you will be good at the job for which you are ap plying. Employers could ask you about your goals, why you chose the job, and what you feel you can contribute to their company. Quintessential Careers can help you prepare for your interview by providing a list of interview questions traditionally asked by prospective employers.

Back to Top

Should I disclose my disability to a potential employer?

Deciding when to disclose a disability and how much to say about it can be a difficult choice for a person with a disability who is looking for a job. Job Accommodation Network's Counselors' Corner provides useful information on Disability Disclosure and Interviewing Techniques for Persons with Disabilities. It provides information on disability disclosure during the pre-employment process. You can also find additional information on this topic in Rutgers University's Career Services web site.

Back to Top

Where can I get funding for a job accommodation?

Many job accommodations do not cost a lot of money. They can include giving an employee flex time, trading tasks with another worker or special supervisory arrangements. However, if you need an accommodation that includes adaptive equipment or an ergonomic work station, it is the employer's responsibility to pay for it as long as the cost is "reasonable". If it is a fairly expensive item, you might want to help the employer find sources of funding. The Job Accommodation Network provides information on funding resources, tax incentives and tax breaks for employers and your rights and responsibilities under the ADA.

Back to Top

Where can I get information about how to start my own business?

The Small Business Administration provides information on developing a business plan, starter-kits and other tools that can help you start your own business.

Back to Top

Will working affect my Social Security and Quest insurance?

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) because of your disability, your benefits are based on the assumption that your disability interferes with your ability to work. If you go to work and earn more than a few hundred dollars a month, sometimes your SSI/SSDI checks could decrease or even stop all together. You could also lose your Medicare or Medicaid Insurance. The Social Security Administration wants you to work if you can, so they have set up the rules so that you can work and still receive benefits.

WorkWORLD computes what your benefits would be if you worked. It also discusses the rules that provide incentives for you to work.

Back to Top

How can I save up money for things I need if my Social Security is taken away when I get a job?

You may be able to identify Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWE) that wouldn't count towards your earnings when Social Security decides how much your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits should be. Or you may be able to qualify for a Plan to Achieve Self Support (PASS), which allows you to put money into savings without it counting as part of your earned income. Work Incentives for Persons with Disabilities under the Social Security and SSI Programs provides detailed information about PASS, IRWEs and work incentives for people on SSI and SSDI. It also includes specific examples with detailed calculations of benefits. This document was put together by the National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project.

Back to Top