Today, it’s possible to pursue a wide and varied range of jobs, and you should feel free to acquire the skills and knowledge you’ll need to pursue whatever type of work appeals to you. Many accomplished professional men and women, including people who are blind or have low vision, have been told that it was not possible to work in a particular field – but they persevered and succeeded.

While there are exceptions, it’s likely you’ll encounter entry-level jobs at the beginning of your search. Always keep in mind that as your employment history develops over time, it’s likely that you will end up in a job that is very different from your initial work experience. This is especially true if you decide to further your education.

For many people, however, this first job experience is not always easy to locate and achieve – so don’t be discouraged if your job search seems difficult at the beginning. Keep looking, be patient, and seek out a mentor who can give you information and advice about a number of different careers. A mentor can be a friend, family member, or acquaintance who is blind or has low vision and is working in an occupation that interests you as a possible career.

With this in mind, and with the understanding that this list is not a fixed set of guidelines, the following employment trends seem to be the most popular at present:

• Office and reception work that includes technology skills
• Customer service jobs, such as call centers and telephone sales
• Internet- and computer-based jobs, such as technology support, programming, maintaining medical records, accounting, and monitoring web site accessibility
• Hospitality sites at hotels or reservation centers
• Government-sponsored internships

It’s important to assess each job’s essential functions and determine if you have the ability, training, and experience to perform the essential tasks that each job requires.