Last week, Vickie in Ohio asked for advice about how
she might transfer her skills into a new work
situation which can be more manageable for her.
She received some interesting ideas from eSight members
about how to bounce back into the job market.
James J. Elekes, M.Ed, MPA, CPM, for instance, suggests:
"Many hospitals are engaged in Quality
Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) efforts because of
increasing mandates of insurance providers. Many of
these positions require computer literacy,
familiarity with medical records software and
attention to detail to insure patient charts are
complete and accurate. Often, QA/QC personnel work
off-schedule, reviewing materials after the patient
departments have concluded their primary functions
for the day.
"Using this skill set, insurance providers may be in
need of case managers to insure patient services are
being provided efficiently and in a cost-effective
fashion. This often requires review of physician
recommendations, the individual's insurance coverage
then, coordinating the patient service plan.
"Similar positions are routinely available as well
in local/county/state government entities which are
Medicare/Medicaid providers and need case management
to schedule, assign allied staff and follow-up on
client services."
Karla Golding writes, "I work in the business office
of a Home Health Care provider in NW Ohio. Even in the
current economy, this business is definitely growing.
Vicki's nursing credentials would be a valued asset."
Barney Mayse offers Vickie this advice:
"She might try teaching online with Phoenix
University. Many of the colleges now have online
learning classes, and, in this case, her skills and
knowledge would be readily transferable. By teaching
online, she overcomes the issue of hearing and can
use her knowledge and skills to teach students the
skills they need to become better nurses."
More colleges are offering courses online. So Vicki
may want to check both local junior colleges or
universities to see if they could utilize her skills
and experience teaching online.
Sometimes online teaching, helping with homework or
working one-on-one to tutor also prepares you for a
new career as a curriculum designer or an author of
textbooks in a particular field of study.
For the past month in eSight Network News (eNN), we've
been looking at various ways to position ourselves as
job seekers during very tough economic times. Vicki's
situation, although not related to the current
recession, reminds us that people can be remarkably
resilient in adapting to changing conditions both on a
personal level and as members of a larger society.
After a lay off or never getting that first job, we
naturally fear for our future. And it always easy to
blame ourselves for our predicament.
But, we have to bounce back.
This may be your first recession. However, your
parents or grandparents and family members may have
experienced something similar 20, 30 or 35 years ago.
Talk to them about the commonality of your experiences
then and now and find out how they weathered the storm
in those times.
Somehow, they bounced back - most likely because they
took positive, small steps to prepare themselves for
better times. So, now is the time to update your
skills by taking one of the many courses available
online or getting your GED or other certificates or
degrees at a college or junior college or university
near you.
It may be a good time to find out what your aptitudes
are through the Myers Briggs personality assessment or
other aptitude test at your school or online. You
might just be surprised what you learn about yourself.
Now may be just the right time for you to seek out
people who are doing work that interests you or those
who work in companies you are targeting.
Why? The U.S. Department of Labor says that more than
70 percent of jobs filled last year were filled
through networking.
Be sure everyone you know is aware that you are
looking for a new job and understands the position
you're seeking so they are better able to help you.
Here are a few other resources that may open up new
opportunities for you at this particular stage in your
life:
O*NET Career Exploration Tools
http://www.onetcenter.org/tools.html
Skills Profiler
http://tinyurl.com/bsd9rs
Career Compass
http://tinyurl.com/7pwncd
O*NET Skills Search
http://tinyurl.com/4uyt3
Employability Checkup
http://tinyurl.com/atvf6y
Explore these job boards and resources for job seekers
with disabilities at
http://tinyurl.com/d8cwz9
So, there are small steps you can do now that will
help you be better prepared for a more favorable job
market.
But, maybe one of the most important steps you can
take right now is to think about what living with
disability has taught you about your personal
resiliency, a soft skill that will be valuable in any
employment situation during this fast- moving 21st
Century.
Think about it. Use the eSight Networking Forum to
initially put it into words. Continue to hone it into
a short but powerful narrative that you can use in job
interviews, where most employers are seeking an answer
to this unasked question: "What makes you the best
candidate for this job, even though you have a
disability?"
So, please start your journey in developing your
personal narrative. Go to the eSight Networking Forum
and reply to this question:
What incident involving your disability shows
you have learned to bounce back in life?
Please post your bounce-back incident at
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1552
Read all the postings at
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1553
Invite your friends and acquaintances to submit their
comments at
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1545
If you have a question, you'd like advice from
members of the eSight community, send them it to
MemberServices@eSight.org
Liz Seger
Facilitator
eSight Careers Network(tm)
http://www.esight.org/
PS: Sunday, March 1, 2009 is deadline for our 2009
Lighthouse International Scholarship and Career
Awards.
Learn more about these scholarships, which reward
excellence, recognize accomplishments and help
students who are blind or partially sighted
achieve their career goals.
Download an application at
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1536
eSight Resources
Community News
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1541
Resource Sharing
http://www.esight.org/view.cfm?x=1982
Job Postings
http://www.esight.org/search_jobs.cfm
Resources for Job Hunters
http://www.esight.org/job_resources.cfm
Networking Forum
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1542
Job Seeker's Network
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1543
Archives for eSight NetWork News
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1544
Share Your "Aha! Moment." It's another form of virtual
mentoring for our eSight community.
http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1297
About eSight NetWork News
One of the benefits of membership in the eSight
Community is your subscription to eSight NetWork News,
which is brought to you from Lighthouse International,
a leading non-profit organization located in New York
City at 111 East 59th Street.
Through services, education, research and advocacy,
the Lighthouse helps people with low vision and
blindness enjoy safe, independent and productive
lives.
For more information about vision loss, its causes and
what you can do about it, contact Lighthouse
International at 1-800-829-0500 or visit
http://www.lighthouse.org
You are receiving this newsletter because you have
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All rights reserved.