Building Your Skills

Education and Training

The career you’re interested in may require more education or training than you currently have. It is also likely that once you begin your career, you will want to learn new skills, so you can advance in your career, accept new responsibilities, and earn more money.

A good place to start learning about opportunities is the Education and Training page of CareerOneStop.

Your local Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) office can help you find on-the-job training or paid or unpaid work experience, and might pay some or all of your wages while you participate in these programs.

Apprenticeships, Internships, Volunteering, Mentors, and Job Shadowing

As mentioned in the Explore Your Options section of this article, there are several excellent ways to learn about different jobs or industries when you are beginning a new career.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships offer a structured way to learn a skilled occupation, craft, or trade while earning money. During the apprenticeship, you gain skills through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction.

The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development explains types of apprenticeships in Alaska and lists Current Registered Apprenticeship Programs statewide in a wide variety of fields.

CareerOneStop has information about apprentice programs on their Apprenticeship page.

Apprenticeship.gov offers an apprenticeship fact sheet and an Apprenticeship Job Finder that lets you search for apprenticeship programs near you.

Internships

Internships are short-term work experiences that allow you to gain practical skills and learn about an occupation in a real-world setting. Many schools and colleges have extensive programs to help you find an internship.

Here are some other ways to find internships:

• The Workforce Recruitment Program was specifically developed for students and recent graduates with disabilities.
• Entry Point affers internships for students with disabilities in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science, and some fields of business.
• Internship websites not specifically focused on people with disabilities include InternJobs.com and USAJobs.gov, which offers information on federal government job opportunities.
• The state of Alaska offers three levels of student internships, for high school, college, and graduate-level students.

Volunteering

Volunteering lets you contribute to an organization while gaining new skills and experiences. You can gain an understanding of a wide range of careers, particularly in nonprofit and medical settings. Because volunteering lets you show your skills and abilities, it can lead to a job offer. Volunteer Match can help you find ways to volunteer in your area.

Another option is to simply contact an organization that does work that you think is important and see whether they need volunteers to help them with their work. There are also state and national volunteer programs that offer opportunities to gain experience. Visit AmeriCorps to learn more about these programs.

Working with a Mentor

Mentors are people who guide someone interested in a career similar to theirs. A mentor can help you understand what it takes to enter a field, offer help while you get training and search for a job, and give you support and advice once you are working. Mentorships can be in person or done over the phone or email. You may be able to find a mentor through family or friends, or your local Independent Living Center.

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing means following someone while they work. This allows you to experience the day-to-day reality of working in a particular job or industry without having to commit to the job or any needed education and training. You can contact companies directly, or find job shadowing programs through trade or professional associations or your school or university. For example, the University of Alaska Southeast offers a Job Shadow Guide, and both Alaska Medical Clinics and Foundation Health Partners host job shadowing programs.