Steps to Employment

If you want to work or build a career, there are some things to think about as you set out to find the right job for you. These steps to employment are intended to help you think about your job goals, what skills and experience you have, whether you could benefit from an internship or apprenticeship, and how to go about finding and learning a new job.

If you think you could benefit from any of the programs and services mentioned in the steps below, be sure to contact your Care Manager to discuss the next steps.  Your Care Manager will know which programs and services you can choose from in your area. 

Before you get started, ask yourself what you are looking for in a job and what is most important to you.

• Why do you want to work?
• Are you able and willing to travel and how will you get there?
• How will you get there?
• Are you looking for specific days and times?
• Do you want to work most days or just a few days?
• How much money do you need or want to earn?
• Do you prefer to work by yourself or with other people?
• Do you like to work inside or outside?
• Are there any places you’ve been or jobs you’ve seen others doing that you think you would like to do?
• Are there tasks that you like or jobs you have tried that help you choose the type of work you want to do?
• Do you like routine in your work or a variety of tasks?

Do you know the answers to these questions?  If yes, the next step is identifying your skills.

If you need to explore these questions more, you may benefit from a service like Pathway to Employment or Community Based Prevocational Services, which can help you discover your interests.

If you are confident with your job goals, it’s important to think about how the skills you have or may need will help you reach your goals. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What types of skills do you have that you could use in a job?
• Have you had a volunteer or paid job before that you liked and were good at?
• Are there tasks you do at home that you could do at a job? Examples: cleaning, answering phones, organizing things, cooking
• Do you know your top 3 skills?
• Have you tried working several hours at a time? How long can you work?
• Have you tried different types of jobs to learn your skills and interests?

If you can answer the above questions, the next step is to begin the information-gathering process that includes looking at different work settings.

If you need help to identify your skills and interests, you may benefit from a service like Pathway to Employment or Community Based Prevocational Services.

Once you have determined what your goals and skills are, you should ask yourself if there is a specific job or task you would like to do.

• Are there friends, neighbors, and family members you can talk to who work and who might be able to tell you about the jobs they do and where they work?
• Do you know people in the community doing the types of jobs that interest you?
• Are you comfortable talking to businesses about jobs?
• Do you know how much you want to work and how much you want to earn?
• Do you know where and how you will get to work?
• Can you complete a job application?
• Do you have the identification needed to apply for a job, such as a state-issued ID and a Social Security card?

If you’ve answered yes to these questions, your next step is benefits and financial planning to help learn how earning money will impact your benefits.

If you need help learning these steps, you might benefit from a service like OPWDD’s Employment Training Program, ACCES-VR, or Supported Employment.

Once you have an idea of how many hours and the pay you may earn, you will want to learn how your income may affect your benefits and your living expenses. With some planning, you may be able to keep some benefits and work. 

• How will wages affect my benefits, including my SSI, SSDF, SNAP, Medicaid, public housing and childcare?
• What is the most I can earn and keep my benefits?
• How can I pay for things I need to help me work?
• How can I manage my money to cover my expenses?

Services that may help you answer these questions are Pathway to Employment, Community Based Prevocational Services, OPWDD’s Employment Training Program and Supported Employment. Other resources include New York Employment Service System (NYESS) to connect to a benefits advisor or the Social Security Administration to read about incentives to work and keep your benefits.

See our Benefits Development Resource Toolkit for more information.

The final steps to getting a job include searching for a job and getting employed.  They can include the following tasks:

• Searching for jobs
• Meeting with businesses to learn about their employment needs
• Filling out an Employment Application
• Reaching out to people you know for personal references (Most jobs like you to have three references)
• Interviewing for a job
• Learning a new job once hired
• Developing good relationships with bosses, coworkers and customers

If you need help with any of the above steps, you may benefit from OPWDD services like the Employment Training Program and Supported Employment. Some people learn and get jobs through NYS ACCES-VR then transition to OPWDD services for on-the-job supports as needed, too.

Additionally, if you wish to advance in your job or get a new job these services can also help you in your continued employment journey.

To talk about your next steps to employment, contact your Care Manager or vocational or employment services staff.  Your Care Manager will know which programs and services you can choose from in your area.