Before You Look for a Job

People are at different points when they find themselves in need of a new job. Some know exactly what they want and how to go about getting it. Others need to learn more about their own interests and skills, or receive training before they are ready to start their job search. Some of the services you might find helpful before you look for a job include:

  • Vocational Evaluation
  • Career Planning (include career exploration)
  • Job Skills Training


VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION:


What is a vocational evaluation or assessment?
A vocational evaluation or assessment helps a person better understand his or her interests and skills. This helps to identify jobs you can pursue and supports you may need.

When would an evaluation be helpful?

  • You want to learn more about what skills you have and how these can be used in the job market.
  • You have never worked before.
  • You don’t have a career goal and are not sure what you’d be good at.
  • You need to know more about what job supports or accommodations you might need.

What are some different types of vocational evaluation?

  • Interest inventories are tests used to help you learn more about your particular interest areas and how they might relate to different types of jobs.
  • Achievement tests may be used to find out about skills such as reading and math.
  • Skills assessments help you learn more about specific skills used in the workplace such as typing, how well you put things together, or how effectively you can compare two or more items.
  • Situational assessments provide an opportunity to try a job in a real work setting to see how you would do performing the specific tasks involved in that type of employment.

Where can I get these types of services?
Where you get the service may depend on what type of evaluation you need. There are many different organizations that can provide a vocational evaluation or assessment. Many can provide you with a vocational counselor, a case manager or an employment specialist who can offer guidance in which evaluations you would most benefit from.

  • One-Stop Career Centers can provide some interest inventories on site and may be able to offer other referrals.
  • State disability agencies such as the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) provide evaluations directly, or fund a community agency to provide you with the testing.
  • Other state disability agencies also may serve as a resource for gathering information about vocational evaluation. If you cannot get services through one of these agencies, you may be able to arrange and pay for them yourself.

Are there self-assessment tools I can use on my own?
Many books, computer software packages and web sites offer self-assessment exercises that you can do on your own. These are generally easy to use and can spark ideas about potential areas of employment.


For Further Information:

http://www.careernet.state.md.us/assessment.htm

http://www.assessment.com/

http://www.carpedm.com/link_pages/career_assessment_tools.htm

http://www.careeronestop.org/TESTING/TestingAssessmentHome.asp

http://www.careeronestop.org/SKILLS/SkillCenterHome.asp

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MassHealth/CommonHealth is a comprehensive health insurance program that provides benefits for disabled children, working and non-working adults who have disabilities. Learn more about the eligibility and application process; view a presentation on the Ticket to Work MassHealth and CommonHealth programs.

 
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Massachusetts Medicaid Infrastructure and Comprehensive Employment Opportunities Grant (MI-CEO).

For additional information and resources visit one of the other three grant websites:
Policy Makers and Advocates- www.mi-ceo.org/
Direct Service Providers- www.MassWorks.org/
Employers- www.ForEmployers.com/

This grant is funded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CFDA #93-768) and administered by UMASS Medical School, Center for Health Policy and Research; UMASS Boston, Institute for Community Inclusion; and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. For more information visit: www.MI-CEO.org

The information contained herein is intended, in its entirety, to serve only as a guideline. While we strive to show the most accurate representation of the various benefits within this website, we take no responsibility for any implied or misconstrued interpretation of the information contained herein.