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Vocational Training

If you decide that a 2- or 4-year college or university program is not right for you, there are alternative ways to prepare yourself for a career. Vocational, technical, and trade schools are a good way to gain skills for specialized jobs.

These schools train students for specific jobs, such as a paralegal, interior designer, medical assistant, chef, or electronics technician. Before you pick a school, think about what type of career you want.

Choosing a Career

  • Talk to a guidance or career counselor. Think creatively, and not just about traditional work environments. A counselor who knows you and your interests can help you to consider all the possibilities you have. While talking to a person is best, various online career tests are available to help you to think about career choices.
  • Do an internship or apprenticeship. Doing an internship or working as a volunteer can help you see what it is like to have a particular job. Internships can also help you network and meet people who might be able to assist you with your career in the future.
  • Find a mentor. If you admire the professional work of someone with a bleeding disorder, find out if that person is willing to meet with you and share tips and advice, or even let you shadow around their workplace.

Consider the Physical Demands

You may want to think about jobs that are not hard on your joints. Even if your health is good now, think about your career 5, 10, 20, even 30 years from now. What careers make physical sense for you long term? Your medical team, especially your physical therapist, can help you understand what might negatively impact your joints, including repetitive movement and various strains and stresses, and how to minimize the risk of future damage.

Consider Salary and Health Insurance

While salary is important, be sure to consider the other benefits of a job, such as health insurance. If you are younger than 26 years of age, most likely you’re covered by your parent’s insurance plan. However, before you know it, you will need your own insurance policy. Your career choice directly affects your ability to get health insurance. You may want to visit some company websites and see if you can find information on their employee health benefits. Various legislative changes in health care policy are affecting you and your benefits. Doing some research now may help you make smart decisions later.