How do I get a Career even if I'm odd/weird/Physicallychallenged?

May 24, 2011

It seems all jobs that have laid me off, have because I have medical conditions(limitations) and because I'm diffeferent than anybody else.

So how in the world can I find a job where they want me . COmpanies seem to like only people who are like they are and so far that has meant outgoing talkative gregarious types.

ALso about my medical conditions, I THOUGHT most companies always say "Equal opportunity" but that's balony. As soon as I say that I can't do something because i have a condition, they seem to take that into account when deciding to fire me.

For example, in my previous job some years ago, all i said was, "I have an ear problem. is it possible to do something about this. being that the loud machine shop is right next door to the room i'm in and we don't have a roof"(room was under construction and they never put a roof even after 8 months.

that's all i said and that same day they escorted me out. Wow, "equal opportunity" my a**. They also didn't like me because i"m latino and I was the only latino there with an accent and with speech impediment.many of the people there would look at me like i was weird and fresh off the boat(even though i'm not even an immigrant)

So equal opportunity is just a bunch of lie.

Then this time(last week) they layed me off because

-Speech impediment

-Spine problem.

And i didn't even say that I couldn't do the job, i was doing everything. I just said my spine hurts alot so can i get some help.

I'm old now, 31, and i still have no career. How can i get something once and for all, or am I just not employable??

May 24, 2011

It sounds as though it is time to switch your precise job. What is your field in general, and what sort of specialized training do you have in that field?

May 24, 2011

My field in general.. well i dont' know i've never had a field. But the jobs I've done are clerical stuff (filing, scanning/faxing, lifting boxes), some data entry.

I don't have any specialized training but i've learned stuff throught my hobbies(computer stuff).

May 25, 2011

This country is not based on talent and hard work but on whose butt can you kiss. I am soo sorry sweetheart that you are going through this.

May 25, 2011

Sorry, Mercedes, I totally disagree that talent and education are worthless in this country. I consider that a self-defeating attitude, and one that just makes the thinker sit around feeling sorry for themselves instead of making themselves more marketable.

QuietGuy, it sounds as though now is the perfect time to start looking into an actual field. At that point, you could start building on an actual career. Right now you are just holding jobs that really don't add up to a 'career'. You are suddenly unemployed, and summer sessions are starting ASAP at community colleges. Call your local CC today - right now! - and make an appt with someone to go in and talk about your options and a good direction for you to be headed in.

What are you interested in, that could match with your current skills? Political justice system? You can get an associates degree in that, and utilize your computer and organizational skills Teaching? Many schools do not require a teaching degree, but allow you to go in lateral entry (with proper education) How about seeing about the licensing for being a PI in your state? You are quiet, you are computer savvy, you tend to stay out of people's way. Take a course in Grant Writing, and start applying for grant writing in your area (where you are paid 10% of the actual grant (or some figure like that) if the grant is awarded); you don't have to be around people on a daily basis and can work from home.

Don't give up, but DO get out there and work on some educational/training goals.

May 25, 2011

I totally agree with "Lucky_one", that isn't even a debatable subject, it's just a fact.

If you live in a, "right to work" state they can essentially fire you anytime with very little reason or no factual ones in most cases. everywhere else they just make your job so difficult you quit. those are just the realities.

Employers are going to higher the best fit biggest bang for the buck. Companies hire college grads first, even if they job has nothing to do with their degree. Because the college grad has shown the initiative to complete something. The same thing use to be true for Veterans & for the same reason, that & patriotism.

Second, they are going to higher the one who impresses them the most.

I don't want to sound mean but you should look for work that you can do. Again, not to sound mean but if someone has a speech impediment I would think they would either try to get it corrected or seek work that does not include things like tele-marketing. If you have a bad back you probably don't want to apply for a job that requires heavy or repetitive lifting.

If you ran a warehouse where a lot of manual lifting was part of the job, would you honestly hire you. If someone came to you for a job & asked you to do something about the noise level instead of buying a set of earplugs, would you hire them?

I've been on both ends of hiring and firing as someone who has interviewed, been interviewed, fired someone & been fired and the reality is; the more valuable you are to that companies needs, the better chances you have of getting and keeping a job.

So make yourself as valuable as you can. Some jobs just aren't worth the trouble especially if you are not a good fit for them that usually means they aren't a good fit for you.

Edited May 25, 2011 by oldguy

May 25, 2011

I don't want to sound mean but you should look for work that you can do. Again, not to sound mean but if someone has a speech impediment I would think they would either try to get it corrected or seek work that does not include things like tele-marketing. If you have a bad back you probably don't want to apply for a job that requires heavy or repetitive lifting.

Thank you for your input. You said i should do a job i can do. Yeah you're right. well it's kind of hard cause i can't speak well, that eliminates 80 percent of the jobs out there.

"QuietGuy, it sounds as though now is the perfect time to start looking into an actual field. At that point, you could start building on an actual career. Right now you are just holding jobs that really don't add up to a 'career'. You are suddenly unemployed, and summer sessions are starting ASAP at community colleges. Call your local CC today - right now! - and make an appt with someone to go in and talk about your options and a good direction for you to be headed in."

yeah maybe i should take something. They have some job training at the employment resource center. As for college, well the reason i didn't do good in college back in 2003.. i graduated etc but just by chance. But i have learning disability and these lectures etc just move too fast and i dont' understand things fast. These profesors are not gonna slow down. these lectures are meant for normal people who can grasp things fast.

I'm gonna take some class or something but also, i don't see how that can help me get a career. Like if i take a photoshop class, what does that help me with if there is no jobs for someone that just knows photoshop. Most of the graphics jobs want someone with knowledge of a bunch of things besides photoshohp. And moreover, jobs about Photoshop are almost none existant.

Let's see what kind of jobs we have around here: Retail, Restaurant, accounting, general office jobs, bank jobs, loan stuff jobs.

Also if you're saying i should get into college and go for another degree. Mmmm, on top of the 20 000 dollar debt i already have for when i went to college in 2003? that would just add me 20000 more. I don't really want to do that.

But i'll find some training somehow. Maybe just grab a couple of classes here and there and get some hands on training also at the employment center.

May 25, 2011

I seriously wish the best for you. My point is mostly that the job market has never been fair or kind & that it's mostly up to you to put your best foot forward.

I don't know the nature or extent of your disabilities & I could take the easy route and offer sympathy or I could be honesty, I choose to be honest.

When I first met a good friend of mine quite a few years ago in college he was making his way across an icy parking lot on a pair of crutches, one leg was amputated near the hip & and he had a prosthetic arm. When I asked him why he didn't just park in the handicapped parking near the front door he shot back at me, "what the hell makes you think I'm handicapped"? He graduated & became a highly successful business man over the years. And I never made that mistake again.

If you have an opportunity for additional schooling, training or help with your disabilities I think you should be all over that. That is putting your best foot forward.

May 25, 2011

I think you might need some help from a MSW level counselor. It sounds like you have several challenges and a professional can help you set goals, identify resources, and hold you accountable to your action steps.

I have a disability, which I have learned to manage over the years. After years of floundering, I have steady employment with a decent income. I still have a counselor that I see regularly. He tracks my progress and listens to my concerns. It can be costly, but it's well worth it. Had I gone on disability, I would be making $9,000 a year. Instead, I make 5 times that.

Good luck in your journey.

May 27, 2011

There are many companies willing to hire people with disabilities, but if you pull out your disability and club them over the head with it when there is an alternative solution to a problem they are going to get sick of you fast. The loud machine shop next door? Instead of complaining about the noise start wearing earplugs. Complain to the company only as an absolute last resort.

And i didn't even say that I couldn't do the job, i was doing everything. I just said my spine hurts alot so can i get some help.

That is saying you can't do the job. Reasonable accommodation doesn't cover getting another employee to do the task you are supposed to be doing.

I'm sorry this happened to you, but if you really have Spine, Speech, Ear and other conditions you probably qualify for government disability payments every month. There is no shame in that, and it might help your condition improve if you aren't aggravating the spine everyday at work.

Edited May 27, 2011 by gaius

May 27, 2011

What are your disabilities? What have you been diagnosed with? How are these disabilities limiting you?

"I'm quiet, my back hurts and noise is annoying" might not be viewed as disabilities but as you being difficult to deal with. Speak with a doctor, get some proof and a diagnosis on your side.

May 29, 2011

What are your disabilities? What have you been diagnosed with? How are these disabilities limiting you?

"I'm quiet, my back hurts and noise is annoying" might not be viewed as disabilities but as you being difficult to deal with. Speak with a doctor, get some proof and a diagnosis on your side.

Well thanks all for the mesages. Yeah i understand the supervisors may think i'm difficult. But well my things are visible.

For example I can't walk well. My knees are damaged and i can barely walk(sometimes more than others). My shoulder was also damaged badly in the previous job before this last one. In this job, I was lifting boxes and stuff until it started hurting bad. So i asked them about it , and they did recognize and accept my problems.Then suddenly i started having this spine problem and my chest feels like tearing and stabbing, i can barely move. One day i went to work and i couldn't move at all...so i walked slowly to the supervisor and told her if i could go to the Dr. I went and the Dr did notice in an xray what was happening.

Anyways, i eventually got a little better to at least be able to do some of the stuff . The job, because of months of having to move fingers quickly to pull out staples and prep tons of papers, also caused me to lose my thumbs. They started hurting really bad when moving pages and pulling stuff. And now i'm to the point where i can't move my thumbs very much . I also went to get that checked and the dr said i have some weird thumbs something to do with a syndrome i have.

Anyways, because I wanted to keep the job I didn't even tell everything i have but some things just started hurting me very much so i had to say it.

So maybe it's good that they let me off cause the job i was doing was more for someone with physical abilities and strength. I'm pretty weak.

***

Now for my next job and my job search I'm a bit scared that they won't like me because i can barely walk. Most young people that work in offices or whatever are not limping...

This is hard. I used to be healthy and i would love lifting boxes or whatever but now i can't do much. And that's the type of work I had for a long time and i would be great at it.

ALLINA, so when do i reveal the problems i have( that can affect the work i do)? in the first interview or what?

Edited May 29, 2011 by quietGuy13

May 30, 2011

What syndrome do you have? What did the doctor notice in your x-ray, and was that issue resolved?

I suggested in my other post that you look into Grant Writing. Non-profits and educational systems often have no funds to hire full-time grant writers, and they rely on writers finding the grants themselves and then offering to write the grant in exchange for a portion of the grant. Grant writing courses are often less than a semester long, and are often on-line (you won't have to talk to anyone for class or walk to get there). You will have to talk or meet with the organizations that you would offer to write grants for, but since your speaking/mobility skills aren't important for grant writing, there is no reason why your disabilities in those areas would affect your getting work.

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