[Job-Discussions] Making that Career Choice

Thu Sep 29 16:51:25 UTC 2022

The thought process can also be affected by culture.
For example, my parents (who are in their late 70s and early 80s) do
not help much, not necessarily because of their age, but because of
the thought process that they grew up with back in Southeast Asia
which taught them that government services like Vocational
Rehabilitation is supposed to be as helpful as the family members are
in assisting the blind individual when it is not the case in reality.
It does not mean that cultural ideals are bad, but I feel that there
is a deficiency in teaching that an individual needs to be as
proactive in advocating for themselves besides just depending on such
government services when dealing with different cultures.
In addition, I also understand that elderly people who did not grow up
having much interactions with technology can be reluctant when it
comes to having to work with the technology while teaching their
children to advocate for themselves, which explains why I am pretty
much on my own with doing self-learning on platforms like Trailhead.
Thus, in my case, I feel like I am on my own when it comes to
attaining employment.

C.C. Alan

On 9/28/22, Dick Davis via Job-Discussions <job-discussions at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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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>>
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