Do You Know What Kind of Job You Want?

Once you decide that you're ready to work, you'll want to spend some time considering the type of job you'd like to pursue. One way to start is by asking yourself:

• What kind of job do I want?
• What do I like to do?
• What skills do I have or need to develop to help me get this job?
• What are my earnings goals?

Answering these questions and identifying your interests, passions, strengths and skills will help you identify careers and jobs that are a good fit for you. This process will also help you set career and work goals as you seek the right career and job. It will also help you think about the supports and services you'll need to find and transition to work.

Today, we're sharing some ideas to get you started, as well as some resources to help you learn more about career options.

Know yourself

As you think about working, consider what makes you happy and where you're most comfortable. Ask yourself:

• Do I like to work alone?
• Do I prefer to work with a team on one common project?
• Am I comfortable answering questions or working with customers?
• Do I prefer working indoors or outdoors?
• Do I have specific needs for my workspace, such as the ability to sit throughout the day?
• Would I prefer a job where I move around a lot?
• Is there an organization I've volunteered for whose mission I had a lot of passion?

Understanding your needs and what makes you comfortable will help you narrow your career interests and target your job search for openings that match your preferences.

Identify your strengths

Whether you've worked before or this will be your first time working, you have knowledge and skills to offer an employer.

Sometimes it's hard to recognize our own strengths. You may want to work with your Ticket to Work service provider to identify skills and strengths that you may not even realize you have. Or ask a friend or family member to help you. You could discover that you're a creative problem solver, or organized and detail-oriented, or you're decisive and a good team leader.

If you've volunteered for an organization or a cause, consider what tasks you've done. Tasks such as sending emails or making phone calls to organize a project are valuable additions to a resume. Similarly, experience with a specific software or communicating effectively with a team during a community service project may help you stand out to a potential employer.

One resource that can help you determine what you're good at and find career options that fit your experience is CareerOneStop's interests and skills assessments and Skills Matcher.

Discover opportunities

Once you know what makes you happy and what you can offer to an employer, it's time to find job opportunities that make sense for you.

Do you need help connecting what you've learned about yourself to potential job opportunities? Your Ticket to Work service provider can help you explore career paths or job openings that fit with your strengths and interests and may even may be able to find training opportunities to help you develop or strengthen skills for the workplace. Another resource to check out is CareerOneStop's Occupation Profile tool to learn about career paths in a variety of industries like education, personal care and service, computer services and communications.

Ticket to Work

Social Security's Ticket to Work (Ticket) program supports career development for people ages 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits (SSI or SSDI) and want to work. The Ticket program is free and voluntary. It helps people with disabilities move toward financial independence and connects them with the services and support they need to succeed in the workforce.

Learn more

To learn more, you can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 866-968-7842 or 866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Ask a representative to send you a list of service providers or find providers on your own with the Ticket program Find Help tool.