There are a number of ways to get work experience if you have little or no work history:
Family and friends can be a great help in finding and landing your first job. Talk with your parents, relatives, and friends and ask them to describe the different kinds of jobs that are available at their workplaces. Make it a point to discuss your ability and desire to perform similar types of work and, if possible, arrange a visit to help you gain first-hand knowledge about these jobs. If your family owns a business, or if they know someone who does, this can make it even easier. No one knows and understands your strengths and abilities better than your family, friends, and you.
Volunteer at a community organization or join a service club and participate in a group project. You can find potential volunteer opportunities in a number of work settings, such as a local animal shelter, community day care center, or hospital. If you have a particular interest, try to find a way to gain experience through volunteer work in a related area, such as at a senior center if like working with older people. Many community service organizations, such as Lions [1] and Kiwanis [2] clubs, sponsor youth divisions, which include Leo Clubs [3] (Lions) and Key Clubs [4] (Kiwanis). These groups conduct volunteer activities and can provide opportunities for job-related preparation and training.
By volunteering, you can gain valuable work experience that will help you when you begin looking for a paying job. Volunteer work also provides contacts for future employment and can be added to your resume [5] as related work experience. Remember, too, that you can volunteer to work at a for-profit business and perhaps end up in a paid position after proving yourself “on the job.”
Specialized job banks can help job seekers who are blind or have low vision to locate employment opportunities in local communities. One such job bank is CareerNet [6], an online employment resource and collaborative effort between National Industries for the Blind [7] (NIB) and The American Foundation for the Blind’s CareerConnect [8]. It is available to people who are blind or have low vision and are seeking employment at NIB-associated non-profit agencies throughout the United States.
Every state has a State Department of Rehabilitation or a State Commission for the Blind/Vision Impaired [9] to assist individuals with employment and employment preparation. These agencies employ counselors, also called Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors [10], who can help you determine your career goals and create a vocational plan. If you qualify, many of these services are free of charge and can help you learn more about employment and educational opportunities.
A vocational plan can include specialized equipment and training, job placement assistance, funding for college or vocational training and transportation costs, and assistance in preparing for employment. It’s best to check with your high school or college career placement center or your State Department of Rehabilitation [9] to learn more about the full range of services that are available to you.
One-Stop Career Centers [11], coordinated by the US Department of Labor, provide general and government job sites and job banks, as well as state-specific job searches [12].
Links:
[1] http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.shtml
[2] http://www.kiwanis.org/
[3] http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/youth_leo_clubs.shtml
[4] http://www.keyclub.org/
[5] http://www.visionaware.org/resume-low-vision-blind
[6] http://www.afb.org/CareerConnect/careernet.asp
[7] http://www.nib.org/
[8] http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=7
[9] http://www.visionaware.org/find_vision_rehabilitation_vision_services_in_your_state
[10] http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Vocational-rehabilitation.html
[11] http://www.careeronestop.org/
[12] http://www.careeronestop.org/JobSearch/COS_jobsites.aspx