[Job-Discussions] Making that Career Choice

Thu Sep 29 04:55:23 UTC 2022

I think SSI, coming at age 18, can be a real curse for young blind people. For years I have told parents to try to get their blind kids into jobs early, so they get the satisfaction of earning a paycheck for a job well done. If not, when SSI hits, they are going to think they are millionaires, and there goes the incentive to work. 
Dick Davis 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Sep 28, 2022, at 11:38 AM, Kris Colcock via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I so agree with you! When we can get our kids into summer work
> experiences, camp counselors, fast food service, mail rooms, etc. the
> experience is extremely valuable. The social aspects, problem solving
> experience, some real life experience of managerial expectations
> prepare you for what is really ouut there.
> 
> I've read so many different articles and posts on how to understand
> that every job is a stepping stone. What you learn from that temporary
> position, that position you took because you had to make ends meet or
> that internship that sounded fantastic but turned out to be a
> nightmare is more valuable then reading about it in a book or class
> lecture. No becomes a CEO of a large company without experience.
> 
> Staying open to opportunity and thinking outside of the box can lead
> to unexpected results.  I mean, who would have guessed that Steve
> Jobbs would have used the experience of calligraphy when creating the
> Macintosh?
> 
>> On 9/28/22, Jennifer Wenzel via Job-Discussions
>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> This is a great discussion. I think it is important to think about both
>> "jobs:" and "careers". While I do not feel it is a good idea to try to push
>> people into expected careers, I do think it is very
>> Important for blind people to gain work experience. This may mean working at
>> something that is not your passion and may not be your ultimate career, but
>> will give you valuable work experience which can be shown on a resume.
>> Sighted people gain work experience like this through early entry-level
>> jobs. For example, my sighted sons have worked in a fast food restaurant and
>> at a grocery store. Some blind people gain this type of entry-level
>> experience early, and that is great. This type of experience cannot be
>> underestimated. Employers may be impressed by education and awards, but will
>> be nervous to take a chance on someone who has never had the experience of
>> coming to work regularly, socializing and collaborating with coworkers,
>> taking initiative and gaining more responsibility. I say all this to make a
>> final point. I think people need to be open to opportunities that may
>> provide work experiences even if they do not fit an ultimate career goal.
>> Holding out for the perfect fit may not result in reaching a goal if you
>> have not worked or have not worked for a long time. This does not mean I
>> advocate that people abandon their career goals. I just think they should
>> look at what an experience may bring, paid or volunteer, and remember that
>> there are many steps on the career path.
>> Best,
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Jennifer Wenzel
>> HR Generalist, Beyond Vision
>> NCUEB Certified
>> P: (414) 778-5800    F:262 439-5865
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> jwenzel at beyondvision.com
>> 
>> |
>> www.beyondvision.com
>> 
>> 
>> 1540 S 108th St, West Allis, WI 53214
>> 
>> Our Vision: Enrich the lives of Americans who are blind through the dignity
>> of work valued by customers and the community.
>> 
>> Give the gift of employment. DONATE
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Job-Discussions <job-discussions-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kris
>> Colcock via Job-Discussions
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2022 11:08 AM
>> To: Job Discussions internet Mailing List <job-discussions at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Kris Colcock <achievingaccess at gmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [Job-Discussions] Making that Career Choice
>> 
>> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not
>> click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the
>> content is safe.
>> 
>> 
>> Love the discussion. I'd like to chime in with two points. First, follow
>> your passion and the money will come idea. As so many have said, when your
>> passion becomes work it can become unpleasant. The other hand is that your
>> passion may be something that cannot actually support you, which was my
>> issue for many years. No matter how many classes I attended, business
>> coaching groups, etc. I couldn't get my passion to support me. I tried for
>> so many years that I lost the spark and now can barely stand to look at it
>> even as a hobby. So stepping back and really researching your "passion" as a
>> career is important.
>> 
>> Secondly, my attention was drawn to his comments regarding allowing
>> ourselves to be guided into a job or career by what others think are a good
>> fit. When blind individuals get into the Voc. Rehab. system, it is common
>> for a counselor to guide the participant to an expected job such as phone
>> work, customer service, social work, etc. There is nothing wrong with these
>> jobs / careers and many blind individuals do well within these careers.
>> However, there are other individuals who do not do well in these careers.
>> Personally I think it is a bit of a tightrope walk to encourage creative
>> career exploration with realistic expectations.
>> 
>> If someone is in the Voc Rehab system do you think it is more important to
>> get them out and working at something or to help them explore a career
>> option that might push expectations?
>> 
>>> On 9/28/22, Justin Williams via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org>
>>> wrote:
>>> Just ask youself how you would like to serve and help others.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> What would you want people ot say about you?
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> That is a start.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Justin
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> From: Job-Discussions [mailto:job-discussions-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Ericka via Job-Discussions
>>> Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2022 4:46 PM
>>> To: Job Discussions internet Mailing List <job-discussions at nfbnet.org>
>>> Cc: Ericka <dotwriter1 at gmail.com>
>>> Subject: Re: [Job-Discussions] Making that Career Choice
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Steve Jobs has good advice. I’d say take jobs as steppingstones to
>>> learn more of who you are and what you can do. Very good question and
>>> very good quote. Advice I wish I had heard 30 some years ago
>>> 
>>> Ericka Nelson
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Sep 27, 2022, at 11:52 AM, Kris Colcock via Job-Discussions
>>> <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>> 
>>> How do you choose a career path? As blind individuals, many times a
>>> career path is suggested and sometimes chosen based on what people
>>> believe you can do instead of your own abilities. Steve Jobs says that
>>> we can get “trapped by dogma which is living with the results of other
>>> people’s thinking.” He warns that if we aren’t careful, we can “let
>>> the noise of others’ opinions drown out [our] own inner voice.”
>>> Here is his advice about careers:
>>> “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only
>>> way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And
>>> the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t
>>> found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the
>>> heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship,
>>> it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So, keep looking
>>> until you find it. Don’t settle.”
>>> The easiest path in this life seems to be the one that we take by
>>> default, the one that at times feels pre-chosen for us, either by
>>> society or someone else in our lives. It seems to be a path of
>>> mediocrity that somebody else somehow led us to believe should work
>>> for us too.
>>> I had to realize this for myself, and if you haven’t realized it yet…
>>> there is no better day than today.
>>> Take control over what you do have control over. Make the most of
>>> every opportunity.
>>> And most importantly, follow your gut, your heart, and your intuition
>>> in your decision-making. Just like mine brought me to
>>> entrepreneurship, yours will lead you to where you need to be too."
>>> 
>>> What does this passage mean to you? Do you wait for that perfect job
>>> or do you take work that can be used as stepping stones?
>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>> 
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