American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Spring 2020 CAREERS
The Value of Job Search Skills Training for Teens and Young Adults
by Anne Steverson
From the Editor: In 2017 Future Reflections published an article called "Career Mentoring for College Students" by Sophie Kershaw. The article described the outcome of a five-year mentoring program for blind college students conducted at Mississippi State University. In this article Anne Steverson shares the outcome of another pilot project at Mississippi State, this one providing blind college students with training in job search skills.
Author's Note: The contents of this report were developed under a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services, NIDILRR grant 90RT5040-01-00. However, this content does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Health and Human Services and should not indicate endorsement by the federal government.
We know from research that blind and low-vision youth are less likely than sighted youth to have early work experiences and to be employed after high school. We also know that paid work experience during high school predicts later employment for blind youth. However, finding opportunities for early paid work experiences can be challenging, especially for blind youth who may not have been encouraged to believe they are capable of working like their sighted peers.
The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC) at Mississippi State University recently conducted a research project to find out if job search skills training is beneficial for blind and low-vision youth. As part of this research project, a program was developed to train blind and low-vision youth on the various aspects of job search skills. This program is called Putting Your Best Foot Forward (PYBFF).
Blind and low-vision high school- and college-age youth participated in the PYBFF program. They took part in group discussions, role plays, and small-group exercises that focused on using examples to demonstrate their strengths and skills to employers, interacting with employers, learning the importance of networking, disclosing their disability, and overcoming barriers to employment. In addition, the youth had opportunities to practice filling out job applications, writing résumés, and participating in two interviews with employers. Researchers followed up with participants periodically to inquire about whether or not they continued to use the skills learned from the program and whether they were employed.
I talked with one of the research participants, Shelly (not her real name), about her job search experiences and participation in the PYBFF program. Prior to PYBFF, Shelly was not sure how to start searching for a job and what to do to look for one, although she did some career preparation in high school. The program helped her realize there is more to life than school, and that she can be productive as an adult.
Right after the PYBFF program, Shelly participated in a work experience at a local children's hospital. She had a specific task for six weeks, which ended up being larger than expected. She wrote policies for the volunteer services program and entered them into the hospital's internal database of policies and procedures. In order to do her task, Shelly had to go through the entire volunteer process to learn how to be a volunteer. She continued to volunteer at the children's hospital after the work experience ended. She is also currently employed at a title and closing company for homes, where she assists homebuyers in the process of closing on or refinancing their homes.
The following conversation ensued regarding the impact PYBFF had on Shelly's job search efforts since the end of the project. Shelly shared what she learned with other blind and low-vision job seekers.
Anne Steverson: Prior to participating in the PYBFF program, had you searched for a job?
Shelly: No, not really. I had worked some for my mom's company, but I was mostly focused on a service project I was leading.
Anne: What did you expect going into the PYBFF program?
Shelly: I didn't really know what to expect. I knew there would be some time devoted to how to work the disability into a conversation. The program helped me learn when and how to talk to employers about disabilities and how to address transportation challenges. It helped me develop my résumé and figure out what to put on there. I have self-esteem issues, and the program helped me work on being positive, especially during the mock interviews [interviews with employers], when I had to answer "Why should I hire you specifically?" That took me a little while to get okay with answering. The class definitely helped me with that. Then also, the idea of networking and everything. I mean, that's how I got my first job.
Anne: So you mentioned several things about the program from networking, how to write a résumé, talking about your disability, a lot of things that seemed to have been a help to you. What was the most valuable part of PYBFF?
Shelly: The mock interviews and the lessons leading up to them. It gave me confidence that I was hirable. The most valuable portion of the program was the preparation we did in the classroom: getting a résumé put together; how to put your résumé out there; who to contact when you find a job ad; how you should approach that entity, whether it be a store or business or whatever situation it is; how to start the conversation if they have put out there that they need help; what to say, what to wait to say, that kind of thing—also, the value of networking.
Anne: Have you used any of the skills you learned from the program?
Shelly: After the program, I applied for a position at a marketing firm. My résumé caught their attention, and I was invited to an interview. Although I didn't have the qualifications they were looking for, I was able to make a good argument about the marketing experience I had gained with my service project by talking to local companies to get them to donate items to my project. I also mentioned how I worked with the marketing people at the children's hospital to design a logo, and then met with a company to add the logo at a minimal price to bags and blankets. When I explained to the interviewer that I had not worked for a marketing firm, I could tell the interviewer's interest went downhill. Being able to identify that they're not as interested in me based on what I learned from PYBFF helped to lessen the blow of not getting the job. It did give me interviewing experience and feeling what that was like. That was good.
I also sought a job at an apartment complex nearby. I did research on the complex's business structure and found out they were hiring. I submitted a résumé and application. Unfortunately, they had already filled the position, but I employed the skills I learned in the class as far as finding a possible situation that might work.
Anne: So it sounds like you have been using the job search skills in many ways in looking for a job. Do you have any advice for other young job searchers who are blind or have low vision?
Shelly: When going for an interview, if you have a cane with you, you are showing proof of your disability. So be prepared to disclose that you are blind and that you have technology that can help [you perform the necessary job duties]. It's up to you as the blind person how you tell the interviewer about your visual impairment. The interviewer may want you to go ahead and put it out there if you have a visible disability.
Also, the idea of networking is super important. Sometimes you don't know what opportunities are hidden and the value of people that you know. They can open up doors. There was a person in my network that I hadn't really thought about. I had no idea that he would be such a great help. The value of networking is often much greater than you can imagine. Sometimes knowing someone and having a foot in the door is more important than anything else. Develop your network; don't lose your network.
Shelly said her ability to network and her strong communication skills helped her get her current job. She has realized she's become a valuable piece in the process of getting someone from loan application to home ownership. Although Shelly is employed, she continues to use the skills she learned from PYBFF to look for a job with more upward mobility and opportunities to grow professionally.
The importance of job search skills cannot be underestimated, especially for blind and low-vision youth. These skills not only help youth find employment as adults, but they also help them find employment opportunities as they progress through their education, contributing to gainful employment when they become adults.
Other participants in the study mentioned that they liked having the opportunities to call employers and ask about job openings, learning how to ask for accommodations, and role playing different job search scenarios. Several participants said the program encouraged them to be less shy and more self-confident.
Thus, learning job search skills helped blind and low-vision youth build confidence and learn to advocate for their needs. Searching for a job can be difficult for anyone, but with the right skills, the process is a lot easier.
The NRTC has developed several products for blind and low-vision youth and their parents from this research project. They include fact sheets related to employment and SSI and videos on how to prepare for a video interview. Other NRTC products for job seekers, but not specific to this project, are the "Resource Sheet for Job Seekers" and "Career Advantage for V.I.P.s." If you are interested in learning more about the PYBFF program, outcomes from the research project, or other products for job seekers, visit the NRTC website at www.blind.msstate.edu.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Anne Steverson, NRTC on Blindness and Low Vision, PO Box 6189, Mississippi State, MS 37962. Telephone: 662-325-2001. Email: [email protected]
References
Cmar, J. L., & McDonnall, M. C. (2019). "Effectiveness of a Job Search Training Program for Youth with Visual Impairments." Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/2165143418792238
Cmar, J. L., & McDonnall, M. C. (2020). "A Curriculum for Teaching Job Search Skills to Youth with Visual Impairments." Visual Impairment and Deafblind Education Quarterly, 65 (2), 74-86.
Cmar, J. L., & McDonnall, M. C. (2020). "Short-term Effectiveness of Job Search Skills Training: Comparisons by Summer Work Experience Participation." Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/0034355220910225
McDonnall, M. C., & Crudden, A. (2009). "Factors Affecting the Successful Employment of Transition-age Youths with Visual Impairments." Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 103, 329-341.
McDonnall, M. C., & O'Mally, J. (2012). "Characteristics of Early Work Experiences and Their Association with Future Employment." Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 106, 133-144.