Career Planning

What is Career Planning?
Career planning helps you make satisfying job choices. It involves gathering a thorough and thoughtful summary of your preferences, skills and abilities, and support needs. Like a sports coach who decides on a game plan before the very first team practice, spending time up front on a strong career plan is worthwhile, and will lead to selecting the goal to aim for in a job search.


When is Career Planning Helpful?

  • Before beginning a job search
  • If your goals and interests have changed
  • If you have little or no work experience
  • If health concerns are impacting your current work
  • When you would like to advance in your career or make a job change


What are the basic strategies for developing a career plan?

You can devise your career plan on your own. There is no cost and you can start any time. Also, it allows you to explore paths at your own pace, and make decisions with a high degree of independence. Many books and software tools are available at your local library or one-stop center and online. You may benefit from a job seeker peer support group where you can connect with others dealing with similar questions and issues. Consider consulting with other people who know you well to add new perspective and ideas to your planning.

Individual planning with guidance and support from a professional can be very successful. Explore opportunities through the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, Community Rehabilitation Providers, One-Stop Career Centers, and other vocational services. Opportunity for free service will depend on particular funding or eligibility requirements. A plus of this method is that the professional will get to know you at a personal level, and his or her expertise can save lots of time and frustration.


When is career exploration important?
Some job seekers have limited or no previous employment experience. They may not know about what opportunities are out there. It helps to have an awareness of work options in order to make the choices that are right for you.


How can I explore my career options?

  • Network with everyone you know to get ideas and make connections that could help you.
  • Schedule informational interviews to learn about positions or work places that interest you.
  • Volunteering, interning, temporary employment and service learning are all great ways to explore career directions.
  • You can spend time observing someone on his or her job, often referred to as job shadowing.  A situational assessment is when you get the chance to try a job out on a short-term basis. Your Vocational Rehabilitation counselor or community rehabilitation provider may be able to arrange these types of experiences for you.
  • Time-limited career exploration programs offer actual work experience along with training and assessment. Ask your state disability agency if a program is available in your area.


For Further Information:

Stories of Success:

  • Using Networking and Mentoring Relationships in Career Planning for Students with Disabilities and Their Families
  • Starting with Me: A Guide to Person-Centered Planning for Job Seekers


Additional resource links:

http://www.careeronestop.org/CareerTools/CareerTools.asp

http://www.mapping-your-future.org/planning/

http://www.cdm.uwaterloo.ca/steps.asp

http://online.onetcenter.org/

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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.