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Georgoa Job reahabilitation program!
26 female
I have a meeting with the Georgia Job Rehabilitation Program Tuesday August 18th from 10:00 a.m to 11:30 a.m. This is a program that's in the state of Georgia that helps people that have disabilities get jobs that won't affect their income.
I have Social Anxiety disorder
ADHD
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
An essential trimmor witch causes me to shake when I get nervous
They also say that I have a very mild form of mental retardation with the IQ of 69
I recieved a letter in the mail yesterday that said that I need to bring a copy of my resume and Work History but I dont have any work History because I recieved SSI venefits since the age of 12 when my mom discovered that I had disabilities. I do hsve volunteer Hiatory with my local church and I wanted to know if that eould be acceptable for eork History? I also volunteered with my cousin at local nursing home s and local drug rehab centers would this be acceptable?
I do have a job babysitting my cousin who has Autisim. alI have had this babysitting job since I was in the 1oth grade. I know that iam not suppose to use family members as refrences I wanted to know if I could use my cousins as refrences sonce they are not immediate family. If I can't use my consin can I use her husband since he is only related by marriage?
In the letter that I received yesterday they said yo dress like I would for a Job intervie but ai never had an interview so I dont know what it is appropiate.
They also said that I needed to bring medical records that prove I have disabilities would my award letter from Social Security be sufficient enough?
Thank you in advance.
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Hon, I used to be a caregiver of a gal with mild mental retardation and other physical issues so I do have some knowledge of the situation.
Employers considering hiring a person with issues as yours and who likely has been on SSI most their lives, will understand that in many cases there will not be previous work experience and thus not likely to be a list of people who you worked with or under to list as references. The references they really want will be those who can vouch for how well you work, your consistancy, dependability and how friendly you are, etc.
My client was involved in a work program just like you and I remember the hiring process when the company she worked for shut down and she had to find a job all over. I was in close touch with and got to know the lady who was her go between and actually did the job searching for her and was available to help walk her through all the questions and prep work like you have asked. The job rehab program is just training to learn some job skills and what your capabilities are but not set up to help you through the process of applying for a job and the hiring and interview process. Often people in your situation need an ongoing person who understands their special needs and will act as a go between for the person and the potentional boss or current boss. It would seem you don't have that. Its available in my state, don't know about yours, but one way to find out is to talk with your state licensed social worker assigned to you. Either you or the parents call and mention what you are looking for and she should be able to give referals to a job counselor if one is not provided through your job rehab. program.
For now, I would guess you are being checked to see how ready and knowledgeable or capable you are of handling these details on your own as you are going not to a private employer for a job interview but a 'practice' one with your job rehab. ctr.
But to answer your questions, you are in the same position as a teenager going for their first job, they will not have any previous work history. In that case, anything they have done where they performed tasks for others on a consistant basis will showcase your abilities in a positive way to an employer. So yes, any volunteer work you have done is good to list. When it comes to mentioning that you can be trusted to be dependable and relied on to handle being in a position of being in charge, then the babysitting of your autistic cousin would be a good example as well. SO list everything you mentioned to me. They will want to know the name of the place or organization you volunteered at, their address and a contact phone number. For references, you will want to list people who worked with you or those in charge who enjoyed having you there and know you well enough to give a good report about you to a potential employer, same with this interview on the 18th. Make a list of the names of the people with their phone numbers, names of those in charge at the nursing home who knew you, maybe one of the residents you forged a close friendship with too, for the church, the pastors name and who ever was in charge at the drug rehab center that knows you pretty well. But before you just put them on the list, call and tell them you are getting interview training to get ready to find a job and need references of those who can vouch for how you worked as a volunteer. Ask if they would be willing and if they are, then they will be expecting a call from a future hiring person/or owner of a company. Generally the reason why family and those related by marriage into your family are not wanted as references is because in some cases, family will always give a good report because you are family, whether its the truth or not. And an employer wants the truth. So while I would leave family members off the list, I would mention on the 18th that with your special circumstances and need showcasing your abilities that you mentioned the babysitting for family, as it is relevant to showing how you have been consistantly responsible in that position for over 10 years and if they would also like the contact information of the family member for whom you've done babysitting all those years, then you'd be happy to provide it.
In a real job interview, how you dress will also make a good impression on people who might hire you so it is important for this reason to dress your very best. Wearing business slacks instead of jean, or a skirt and a nice blouse instead of a tee shirt will do the trick. Not all jobs require that as your normal daily wear to work and jeans and tees may actually be what people wear to work daily but for the interview, dress up as you would if going to a church service or going to someones wedding. I cant say for certain if your award letter from Soc. Security would be enough. What you can do is call the phone number on the letter or your contanct number for the job program, mention the letter you received, your appointment and that you have a questions regarding one of the things they require that you bring. Ask if the letter from Soc.Security is sufficient and if not, what they might want from you instead or in addition to. Not all employers might want letters from medical doctors, therapists or mental health counselors but some might, nothing giving away any personal information but just a letter verifying that you are a patient of their office for tremors, ADHD, Depression, Bi polar, or retardation. They should be able to tell you on the phone what they require. If you cant obtain all the paperwork needed in time, as its this coming Tuesday, then let them know you are still working on getting that information and ask if they will accept it at a later date. The fact you got your instruction letter with so little time to pull this together, left you little time and no training on how to get prepared for a job interview. In the case of my client, she only wore sweats and tees and was on low income and couldnt afford to purchase interview clothing so her personal job counselor did a search and found a local agency that gives away free interview style clothing (2nd hand) to the handicappped who are looking to go on job interviews. There may be such an agency in your area which would be the job of an employment counselor thru the state who helps you find such a place and also helps find potential companies willing to hire the disabled.
I hope this helps you. But I would seriously ask my state social worker for help getting a job finding/hiring counselor through the state. I cant remember their official title but he/she should know what you are talking about if you discover on Tuesday at the rehab. program that they don't provide this service. It is a good thing to ask them though if they can recommend where you can find such a person to help you.
Good luck and don't worry, this is more to find out how prepared you are for the 'real' interview process. As for clothing for Tuesday, I'd ask family who are your size to borrow a skirt and blouse or slacks for the interview.
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