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Jobs and Careers

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Exploring Different Careers

How many careers can you name (doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, banker, sales, etc)? There are thousands of jobs to choose from. Thanks to technology, new jobs are being created every day.

Here are some ways to learn about different careers to determine what may be the best fit for you:

  • Take a career assessment. Tests are available that ask you detailed questions about yourself and your interests. Don’t worry, you won’t be graded! These tests are fun and are meant to help you learn a little bit more about yourself and the careers most suited to your interests and talents. Tests are available through school guidance counselors or online. Some are even free!
  • Volunteer or get a summer job. You can learn about how a company works and gain valuable basic workplace skills and experience.
  • Explore hobbies and activities. Your school or community may offer science, music, and cooking classes to help strengthen your skills. You can join the photography club, drama club, or newspaper if you want to explore the arts. Some high schools have career exploration clubs like the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA), or Future Business Leaders of America, which may help you learn about different careers.
  • Research different careers. The Internet is a great resource for researching different jobs. Don’t limit yourself. Think outside the box. There are different ways to pursue various fields; if you like sports you can be a sports reporter, manager, publicist, or physical therapist.
  • Go to camp. Camp is a great place to pick up leadership skills and learn how to work with a team. Camp can also help you explore different career paths.
  • Find a mentor. If there is an older person with a bleeding disorder whose work-related achievements you admire, ask if he or she will mentor you. Building a relationship with someone whose life you respect can make a big difference in moving toward your own decisions and eventual independence. Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) and local hemophilia chapters may be able to help you find individuals with bleeding disorders who have faced similar obstacles or restrictions in certain career fields.
  • Attend support activities in your community. Some HTCs offer career exploration programs. These programs may include personality and career testing, information about various careers, and advice on making financial decisions.
  • Job shadow. Participate in Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work® Day. Held every year in April, this national event shows boys and girls what a parent or mentor does during the work day and the value of education. It can give you a chance to think about your future.
Remember, you don’t have to choose a career now—just have fun learning about your options!

Resources

  • Kids.gov. Offers career information for younger kids. Choose your grade and then click on careers to see a list of possibilities.
  • Vocational Information Center. Provides a lot of information on careers. Some of the resources are geared for adults, but they can be useful for you, too.
  • What Do You Like? The US Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site links interests to career choices. Contains detailed information about a career, including what the job is like, the necessary skills to do that job, salary, outlook for the job's future, and much more.

Skill-Building

Here are some skills that can help you be successful in almost any profession:

  • Computer skills. Nearly every field uses computers in some way.
  • Conflict resolution. People have different ideas and communicate in many ways, which can lead to disagreement and clashes. Learn to compromise and listen to and appreciate other people’s ideas and points of view.
  • Teamwork. Many companies and volunteer organizations have teams or committees that work on specific projects. Learning to work in group is crucial in today’s workplace.
  • Work ethic. Being punctual, hardworking, respectful, and honest are the cornerstones of achievement.
  • Time management and organization. All employers look for employees who can give them the best work in the shortest time.

Joining the workforce through an internship or a volunteer position can teach you valuable basic workplace skills. In addition, you may gain technical skills, such as learning new computer software or a database. You can list all of these skills on future resumes.

There are several great opportunities in the bleeding disorders community that can help you develop strong leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, and communication skills. You can volunteer at your local hemophilia chapter, walk or attend the National Hemophilia Foundation’s Washington Days and learn how to advocate for your health.

Local hemophilia chapters and camps offer different types of youth leadership programs, which give teens the chance to get together throughout the year and participate in skill-building and career-related activities. Teens can become Counselors in Training (CITs) at camp or join the National Hemophilia Foundation National Youth Leadership Institute (NYLI), which is a great program for young adults, aged 18 to 25 years. NYLI teaches kids leadership and problem-solving skills. To be eligible to apply to this program, young adults must demonstrate leadership skills in their communities.

For more information, go to National Youth Leadership Institute (NYLI).

Finding the Right Career Match

You’re probably used to thinking about how your bleeding disorder affects your choices in school and sports. As you think about a future career, many of the same issues come up. Staying healthy and making good decisions can help keep your career options open. As you explore future careers, think about the physical demands that your body may or may not be able to handle. Learn what medical restrictions might make it difficult to enter into a particular field. If you are interested in a physically demanding field, think creatively about your options. For example, if you want to build homes, find out which job would best position you to grow into a supervisory role; or, you might consider architecture, interior design, or landscape design.

There are more things you can do than you can’t do!

Disclosure

If you are working or hoping to have a part-time job soon, you may have questions about whether or not to tell your current or future boss about your bleeding disorder. Ultimately, this decision is entirely yours. Some people choose to disclose their bleeding disorder so they receive proper services and support. For instance, if you’re working behind a counter and standing for a long time, you can request a chair or stool to reduce the risk of putting too much pressure on your joints. If your employer knows about your bleeding disorder, he or she can make seating available to you.

On the other hand, some people choose not to disclose their bleeding disorder. They might feel that their disorder does not affect their job performance, or they might be afraid that they will be treated differently or denied opportunities because of disclosing a disability.

Whether or not you choose to disclose, remember your rights. Under the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, a civil rights law that was enacted by Congress, you are protected from discrimination and harassment based on disability.

For more information on your rights and opportunities, go to Disability.gov.

Here are some of your rights:

  • Choosing when, or if, to disclose a bleeding disorder.
  • Have information about your bleeding disorder treated confidentially and with respect.
  • Be considered for a job based on merit, experience, and skill.
  • Request reasonable accommodations during the hiring process and on the job.
  • Be protected from discrimination during the job application process, hiring, training, pay, promotion, benefits, leave, and firing.
Focus your disclosure conversation on your abilities, not your bleeding disorder.