Cómo obtener información, capacitación y experiencia

As you think about a long-term career goal, you’ll realize that the careers that interest you probably require more education or training than you currently have. And once you get a job, you will need to learn more new skills so that you can advance in your career, accept new responsibilities, get promotions, and earn more money.

You can get training and experience in many different ways, and you need to decide which are best for you based on the career you hope to develop. You can learn about your options in many ways, such as:

• Talking to friends and family
• Doing research online or at the library
• Doing informational interviews
• Attending career fairs in your area

Once you know what you need, you can get training and experience that can help you get the job you want. You could try:

• Volunteering
• Being an intern
• Doing an apprenticeship

Then, when you start working, you will have even more chances to learn new skills. For example, you could:

• Get on-the-job training
• Learn from a mentor, either at your workplace or outside of it
• Have a job coach

Here we’ll discuss some of these ways of getting experience.

Informational Interviews

A great way to learn more about a career option is to talk to somebody who works in that field. Talking to somebody to learn about a profession is called an “informational interview.” If you already know somebody who works in the field that you’re interested in, talk to that person. If you don't know anybody, you can ask your friends or family if they know people who work in that field.

When you find somebody to talk to, dress nicely and be polite. Even though this is an informal conversation, you want to make a good impression because this person may be able to help you get a job later. By talking to somebody who actually has the job you are interested in, you will get a much better idea about how to get that job and what it is like. Here are a few questions to ask during an informational interview:

• What steps did you take to get your job?
• What kind of training was needed?
• How long did it take for you to get to your current level at work?
• Do you have any suggestions for how I could get started?

As you discuss your interests with more people, you will learn a lot about how to develop your interests into a career. You will also make valuable contacts who may be able to help you get an internship, do job shadowing, or be your mentor. If you are lucky, the person you do your informational interview with may even be able to help you find a job!

Career Fairs

Career fairs are events where many employers are present and want to talk with potential employees. Career fairs are a great chance for you to learn about different industries. Take copies of your resume to the fair in case you learn about a job that you want to apply for. Dress nicely and act professionally when you go to a career fair. Don’t chew gum, use inappropriate language, or do anything you wouldn't do at a job. This is a chance for you to show potential employers that you would be a good employee. To find a job or career fair near you, click here.

Volunteering

When you volunteer, you work for an organization without getting paid. Volunteering is a great way to do important work, get experience, learn new skills, and make contacts who might be able to help you get a paying job in the future.

Another good thing about doing volunteer work is that you can put it on your resume. If you look for a job in the same field as the volunteer work that you did, potential employers will see that you have experience. Even if you apply for a job in a different field, the potential employer will see that you have work experience and are a hard-working, dedicated person.

Volunteer Match is a good website for looking for volunteer possibilities. 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.

Internships

An internship is a program designed to give you experience. As an intern, you work at a job for a limited time, anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on the program. You gain work experience that can help you decide if you like the type of work. An internship also allows you to learn new skills and make new friends. There are 3 big differences between an internship and a normal job:

1. Internships are designed to give you training while you work, which means that you often get exposed to a wide variety of activities.
2. Not all internships pay.
3. Many internships are only available to students.

You can get more information about internships and how to find them in DB101’s article on Getting a Higher Education.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are basically on-the-job training. They are structured programs that teach you a skilled occupation, craft, or trade. Apprenticeship programs can help you learn how to become a carpenter, plumber, electrician, or get another skilled job. There are also apprenticeships at factories, electrical plants, and in other technical fields.

During the apprenticeship, you gain skills through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction. Once you complete your apprenticeship, you will get a certificate for the field in which you have specialized. You may also be offered a job at the company where you did the apprenticeship. To learn more about how apprenticeships can lead to jobs, click here.

To do an apprenticeship, you must be at least 16 years old and have a high school diploma or be pursuing a GED. To find an apprenticeship program, click here.

On-the-Job Training

A lot of jobs that require specialized training offer on-the-job training, because the knowledge you need is specific to that workplace. On-the-job training means that your employer teaches you the skills you need to do your job. In this way, you’ll actually get paid to learn! On-the-job training can be structured or informal. For example, your employer may want you to complete a training program, or may just have one of your coworkers show you what you need to do.

Learning from a Mentor

Mentors are people who offer you guidance and support. If you have a career goal, it is great to have a mentor who works in that field show you exactly what his or her work is like and help you figure out how to get a job.

A mentor:

• Helps you understand what it takes to enter a field
• Offers support while you gain training and search for a position
• May be able to help you get a foot in the door at a company in the future
• Serves as a personal reference when you apply for jobs, and
• Once you get a job, can give you ongoing support and advice.

Mentorships can be in person or can be done over the phone or email. You may be able to find a mentor through family or friends, but there are also other resources that can help you find a mentor:

• Your local Independent Living Center
• Youth Organizing! (YO!) Disabled and Proud, which focuses on helping youth with disabilities get educated, connected, and organized
• University programs, like the University of California at Berkeley’s TRIO program, which are specifically set up to build mentoring relationships

Job Coach

When you get a job, a job coach can help you learn how to do your job and make sure you adapt well to the work environment. Your job coach can also help you with work-related concerns, such as how to talk to your boss about questions you have and what accommodations you may need. You might have a job coach through your Ticket to Work program, el Departamento de Rehabilitación (DOR), or through another one of the agencies described later in this article.