Finding a Job

Finding a job takes hard work and perseverance. You have to be patient. Here we will discuss some of the ways that you can look for a job.

Talk to People

The most common way to find a job is by talking to people. Talk to your friends, family, professors, and other people you know. Let them know that you are looking for work and what type of job you want. Ask them to let you know if they hear about an opportunity.

If you know somebody who has a good job, see if that person knows about job openings at his or her workplace. If you like a company or organization and want to work there, contact them! Even if they don’t have any job openings, you may be able to arrange an informational interview where you can learn more about the type of work they do and the best way to find a job in that field.

Job Listings

In addition to talking to people, there are also numerous websites that can help you find work. For example, you can search for different types of jobs and locations on the Alaska Department of Labor's AlaskaJobs website. Another simple way to look for work online is to search for “job listings” on an Internet search engine. Your search results will include links to many of the websites that specialize in jobs in your area.

Job Programs

It can be difficult looking for and finding a job if you think you have to do it all on your own. Fortunately, there are some excellent organizations that can help.

• The Alaska Job Center network can provide the tools, resources, and services you need for your employment, training, and other work-related needs.
• The Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) can help you prepare for, find, and keep a job. To be eligible, you must have a physical or mental disability that makes it difficult for you to prepare for, get, or keep work.
• The Bright Path program at the nonprofit Alaska Center for the Blind and VIsually Impaired helps with job preparation and vocational training (and more) for youth (ages 14-21) with these disabilities. (The center also offers these services to adults.)
• The AlaskaWorks Partnership can connect you to training, education, apprenticeships, and careers in Alaska’s construction, mining, oil and gas, maritime, and transportation industries.
  
• Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) offer activities and training to help you explore and prepare for health care careers in Alaska.

Ticket to Work Program

If you are over the age of 18 and receive disability benefits from Social Security, the Ticket to Work Program can help you learn about job options and maybe give working a try. It helps you find a job and see if you like it without losing your health coverage benefits. If your disability gets worse and you need to stop working, you can easily get back on cash benefits.

Ticket to Work can help you:

• Figure out what sort of job you would be successful at
• Get training
• Find work
• Receive job coaching
• Get continuing support once you get a job to help you be successful

To participate, you need to contact an agency that provides Ticket to Work services. A couple of examples are Alaska Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the Alaska Job Center network. To learn more, visit Ticket To Work's ChooseWork website.

Customized Employment

Traditionally, individuals need to look for jobs that they are qualified for, apply for them in competition with others, and then perform the tasks that they are assigned. Customized employment approaches finding work from a different perspective. In customized employment, an organization or a person, like a vocational rehabilitation counselor, helps create a connection between an individual and a potential employer or employers. The counselor then helps the individual and the employer figure out what sort of work the individual could best do at the place of employment. Talk to your vocational rehabilitation counselor to learn more.