[gui-talk] question for everyone

[Hoffman, Allen]

Nick:
 
Here are some thoughts I had in reaction to your question, not in a
organized set.  You can reorganize this to your own needs.  By the way,
good question, asking for advice is never a bad thing.
 
First, figure out what job you think you can, and want to do.  This is
difficult for folks for various reasons, including lack of experience,
lack of confidents in your abilities as someone with a disability, lack
of education, or just plain personality issues.  However, you have to be
determined that you "want" to work, are supposed to work, and make a
life for yourself just like everyone else is expected to, and it will
come in one way or another.  Once that's out of the way, you will be
surprised at how many paths to the jobs there are, but you have to be
open to looking for your kind of work in various paths.
 
What are you good at?
What have you been trained for?
What contacts do you have so far?
It does make a difference who knows you, as much as who you know.
 
Helping others and making connections/networking gets you out there for
others to think of when the time is right.
Don't settle for an entry level job, but don't ignore them if it gets
you started-people all start somewhere, and what job you start with
generally does not lock you in-but can give you contacts, connections,
and experience to draw upon.
Employers look for experience, and will take that in to account over
education mostly, since they want work, not just education.
 
Understand the company and work they do before appearing for an
interview.
Always ensure you are on time, look professional, and answer questions
put to you-not just rerouting your answers to your positive issues.  
Remember, sometimes a job isn't right for you, not your fault and not a
bad thing.  An employer who doesn't take you for one job might remember
you when another more matching job comes around and let you hear about
it.
  
You *will* have to tell the interviewer how you can do the work in most
cases since in so many situations they'll be interviewing a blind person
as a courtesy, not because they really think you are the right one for
the job.
 
As someone who has gotten jobs, and also who as interviewed and hired
employees, I can tell you, that knowing how to do a job, answering the
interviewers questions honestly, and demonstrating your ability to get
the job done is the path to success.  Federal and State governments are
excellent places to look for work because they have Programs looking to
put people with disabilities in to jobs, where as commercial employers
don't really often feel this is their mandate.
 
You should look for commercial employers who do business with the
government, and get a job with one if possible, because that can often
get you in the door to a government job which may be more stable over
the long run.
 
Learn how things work in your field of work, and even in others-thinking
is what is "hard to find" in employees, and once folks figure out you
can think, and do, you will never be lacking for work.