Job Tip #1

     * Don't start your search with the want ads--start with yourself.
     * Take a personal inventory. List all the things you like to do, the
       things you're good at, things you already are doing, your work
       experience, and features that are important to you in a job such
       as: part time/full time, benefits, indoors, outdoors, etc. Ask
       others for feedback on what they believe you do well.
     * Use all of the information you have gathered and listed to
       describe your conditions for employment, your preferences for
       employment and the contributions you have to offer an employer and
       a workplace. Determine if you will need to have a job carved to
       meet your specific conditions for employment or if you will be
       able to meet the criteria of a job description.
     * If you want to drive the job search, and not have it drive you,
       you must let your conditions, preferences, and contributions
       direct your job development plan.

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                                 Job Tip #2

     * When you have completed your personal inventory and have gathered
       your information to describe your conditions, your preferences,
       and your contributions, sit down with your family and your
       friends. Create your personal job description which will outline
       your goals.Then Identify employment areas that meet your
       description for employment. From these employment areas, identify
       businesses that represent that area, then see if anyone at your
       meeting has a contact within that business.
     * Ex: Conditions: in a bright warm environment; want to work alone,
       but have people around; sitting job; within easy distance from
       home; can use para transit; part time; mornings; little or no
       phone work; repetitive work; work-station near to an accessible
       bathroom.
     * Preferences: use of the computer or microfiche; in a medical
       setting or office building; in a music store but no customer
       contact; at a radio or TV station where music is played; "I don't
       want to work for..."
     * Contributions: good attendance; gets along with everyone; is
       attentive to detail; knows every musical group since the
       seventies; very organized; wants to work.
     * Types of jobs: Business
     * Data entry:
          + Memorial Medical Center
          + Univ. School of Medicine
          + Allstate Insurance
          + Family Medical Clinic
          + LensLab
          + Department of Public Aid
          + Tower Records
     * Stock Person:
          + Tower Records
          + Sam Goody
          + MusicLand
          + Coconuts
          + Best Buy
          + WQAP Radio Station
     * You have now created your target list for job development.
       Prioritize the
       list, and plan your strategy for contacting employers.

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                                 Job Tip #3

     * In Job Tip # 2 you identified and prioritized your list for job
       development. Now, you must decide if you are going to contact
       businesses yourself, or if you will ask someone to represent you.
       In either case, the list will guide you in your job development
       efforts. Begin by preparing how you will contact an employer and
       what you will say during your first meeting.
     * If you are representing yourself:
       Call to make an appointment with the employer. Send a letter of
       confirmation. Now make decisions and practice what you will wear,
       how you will present yourself, what you will say, what you will
       take with you, and how you will end the meeting. Ask around to
       learn something about the companies you will be interviewing with.
       Keep file cards with the information for each company.
     * If you are a job developer representing a person with a
       disability:
       Make an appointment with an employer from the prioritized list.
       Send a letter of confirmation. Gather information about the
       businesses. Decide how to represent the person. Practice the
       presentation with a co-worker.
     * Whether representing yourself or being represented by an agency,
       try using a portfolio to assist you during your meeting with the
       employer