Reentering the workforce with a disability and no experience?

[lovetoscrap]

In the next year or two I will probably need to go back to work--kids will be heading off to college sooner than we realize and we will need the extra money. I am just not sure how to even go about finding a job that I will be able to do.

I have severe issues with my feet that affect my stamina and cause terrible pain if I am on my feet for more than about 10 minutes. I really would only be able to do a desk job, that required mostly sitting. I can't do much lifting or climbing stairs or physical tasks because the years of not walking properly have affected my hips and back. If I had to do much walking I could use my scooter but I really prefer not to. I don't use my issues as a crutch or an excuse, but I am just being practical about what I can and can't do. Doesn't do me or an employer much good if I try to push myself outside of where I am able.

Because of my feet issues I am also limited to only wearing tennis shoes. That will look great at a job interview! There is no way that I can wear anything but so just trying to wear dress shoes for an hour or so interview is not even an option

Then you have my skill set. None.

I have a BS in Early Childhood Education. I am qualified to teach preschoolers and early elementary grades. But I in no way have the stamina to do that. I am actually a substitute teacher for our district, and I love doing that, but one day of work is very painful and requires a few days of rest off my feet to recover. And I am not getting enough work to provide the extra money we need anyway. Even if I were in perfect health, I don't want to go back to full time teaching at all.

That is pretty much all I have done is teach. I have had a few easy retail jobs but nothing long lasting and all of those were on my feet full time. My total work experience is actually pretty short as most of my jobs were short term. I think the longest I have worked anywhere was one school year teaching not long after college.

I have zero secretarial skills. I can type but not fast or well. I don't have experience with a multi line phones, I am terrible with math/ numbers--no accounting or finance. I am familiar with Word and Excel but not very in depth-- just what I use as a SAHM and school volunteer.


I do have "strong oral and written communication" skills. I learn fast and am an eager learner, and think that I am pretty intelligent and capable. I have a great attitude, work well with others, can take direction well and can take the initiative on things. I am friendly, responsible and reliable. I am a great employee as a person, but I just don't have the skills/background to qualify for much. And of course my resume is practically non existent-- any job I used to have is for a location or people that are no longer around. I can put together something on my practical experience as a volunteer for several different organizations in the last 15 years and hope that is enough.

I figure that maybe I can use this year to see what is available, what I can do, and try to get some skills needed. I think I can take some free classes with the school district on computer skills.

Where does a 40 year old, disabled woman with no experience in anything look to find a job? And how do I handle going to an interview in a professional outfit and tennis shoes?


ETA: No idea if it matters or not but I don't have any official "disabled" designation (is there one?)-- other than the HC parking tag! I do have a supportive dr that would assist in any way if needed.

 

[happily single]

Congrats on the decision to go back to work.

Since you aren't looking to go back right away you will have time to go to a community college to tech school even if its just to take a few word processing, accounting courses.

It seems to me that a telemarketing type job/call center is what you would be looking to do.

 

[doxdogy]

Have you considered customer service? You are pretty much tied to a phone and your desk for the entire day. The only time you are way from your desk are breaks and lunch. I started out in customer service and was able to work my way into becoming an administrative assistant. The work can be hectic and boring at times (no calls coming in), but we were allowed to read or talk among ourselves.

 

[Christine]

With your early childhood education and experience working with kids, have you considered doing a very small amount of daycare in your home such as caring for no more than two infants. Infant caretakers are incredibly hard to find, especially in a small setting and I'm think that with kids who cannot walk and move much, that would leave more than enough hours off your feet and you can wear your sneakers all day.

Plus, depending on where you live, parents often pay a premium for high quality infant care.

It's not the most glamorous job and it does require stamina of a different kind but you can call the shots with this.

 

[dispor]

If I were you, I would be spending all my spare time at home learning to type and do 10 key entry as quickly and as accurately as possible. I'm sure there are free on-line tutorials out there.

Try looking for a job in a bank's operation department. I have held two different jobs in that area, and both have been completely sitting. No lifting, standing or walking at all.

As for the interview... You say only tennis shoes, but do you mean that literally? Could you wear flats to an interview? If not, I would wear black slacks with new black tennis shoes, and I would mention why at the interview. If it is for a seated job, especially if there is no customer contact, I would think they'd be okay with it.

Good luck!!!

 

[Michelle and crew]

I would look for a position as a director at a Y, daycare, aftercare program, library or something of that sort. You have a bit of time, maybe add some business courses, etc.

It is hard jumping back into the market. You might check to see if your area has a women's business support network. Good luck.

edit, could you wear flats? I have some cute ones.

 

[arminnie]

I would check with Easter Seals - they provide help to disabled adults and children.

Also most states have a division dedicated to helping disabled people get back into the workforce.

Sometimes employers are even offered incentives to hire people. Training and other services can be offered.

I've seen people with incredible disabilities gain entry into the work force.

Use all the resources you can especially during the next year.

 

[lovetoscrap]

For the 10 key banking thing do I have to be good with numbers? Can't add past 10 without taking off my shoes. Not really, but math is not a strong area for me, and I can't even balance my own checkbook without screwing it up.

Have you considered customer service? You are pretty much tied to a phone and your desk for the entire day. The only time you are way from your desk are breaks and lunch. I started out in customer service and was able to work my way into becoming an administrative assistant. The work can be hectic and boring at times (no calls coming in), but we were allowed to read or talk among ourselves.

That is kind of what I was thinking. No idea how I go about finding out if there are any of those types of places in my area.

With your early childhood education and experience working with kids, have you considered doing a very small amount of daycare in your home such as caring for no more than two infants. Infant caretakers are incredibly hard to find, especially in a small setting and I'm think that with kids who cannot walk and move much, that would leave more than enough hours off your feet and you can wear your sneakers all day.

Plus, depending on where you live, parents often pay a premium for high quality infant care.

It's not the most glamorous job and it does require stamina of a different kind but you can call the shots with this.

I would love to do infant care in my home. Hadn't thought of that. I could actually do that now since I would be home. Not sure if DH would go for it though. He is kind of funny about those things and worries about liability. I may look into it though. I have a friend that knows everybody and could probably let me know if someone is looking.

I would look for a position as a director at a Y, daycare, aftercare program, library or something of that sort. You have a bit of time, maybe add some business courses, etc.

edit, could you wear flats? I have some cute ones.

Director positions, and even asst director positions, require several years of child care experience. I don't have that. The experience that I do have probably can't even be verified because the centers are not even still in existence now! And a good director will be on her feet much of the day and not sitting behind a desk.

I would love to be a Children's Librarian but have to have a Library degree and that is not an option. Our libraries are small so I could walk around them if I sit much of the time. But the entry jobs are at the Circulation Desk and Reshelving which is all on your feet.

No flats. One pair of special tennis shoes with several modifications and even those hurt. I am actually most comfortable these days in Fit Flops but no way I am wearing flip flops to work.


You all have given me a few ideas to think about. I did find that I can take Word/Excel/PowerPoint classes for free so I will probably do those.

 

[golfgal]

I agree that a customer service job would be perfect for you. Look on Careerbuilder.com for listings in your area. It is a pretty high turnover field so you should be able to find a job somewhat easily. Almost every medium sized company and larger have customer service people

As for the 10 key goes-that is just typing on a number pad-like on your keyboard for your computer. It is actually pretty easy. Knowing that well would get you into a job like Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable where you are mainly entering invoices received or to be paid. Kind of a mind numbing job but something you could do.

You may even be able to get a job at Target, etc. as a cashier. They will let you sit if you have to for those jobs.

 

[dimimi]

Why not use the scooter on your job? You could work circulation at the library and use the scooter when needed. If hired, the company has to provide you with reasonable accommodations.

Good Luck!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

As someone who works as an Early Childhood administrator, I know I'd be happy to hire someone like you for a job on our admin team. Having a balance of people who know admin things really well, and are willing to learn about young children, and people who know young children and their families really well, and are willing to learn about admin things (like phone lines and computer things) is perfect in my opinion. I'd love to have someone on my team who can put on a bandaid, and make those phone calls to worried parents in the first few weeks (He stopped crying!), or put together a flyer for back to school night with all the things people want to know, or walk a parent through a report card and explain what everything means.

I'd love to have someone calling in my orders for me who knew how to make sense of early childhood catalogs and can find the best prices on things because they know what makes a difference and what doesn't (e.g. I had a situation where I once submitted an order for 48 chairs. I was told we had the budget so I picked out some very nice ones, but it turns out we didn't so they only ordered 24. I was scratching my head trying to figure out why on earth they thought a program with 48 kids would prefer 24 very nice chairs to 48 cheap ones -- did they think I'd have the kids take turns?). If you were able to do an occaisional sub, reading a story for 15 minutes while a teacher took an important phone call, or sitting in a room during nap time, that would be great, but not a deal breaker.

I'd also be thrilled if you used your scooter at school, because I think that modeling diversity for kids is so important -- but of course that would be up to you.

Anyway, I don't know if you'd be interested in that kind of job, but it seems like it might suit your skills and let you develop the admin skillss to go elsewhere since ECE doesn't always pay that well.

What about all black sneakers? The ones that look like nurses's shoes except black instead of white? Could you find those -- they're less obvious than regular tennis shoes. I don't know if you need a certain brand or if something like that would work.

 

[dispor]

For the 10 key banking thing do I have to be good with numbers?

Not usually. In the bank jobs that I have had, the pack of documents you are entering are already balanced at the branch. If the batch doesn't balance, your machine (could be a check encoding machine, or could be a computer now) will tell you it is out of balance. Then, you just have to go through the stack and determine which figure you entered incorrectly.

Wear your specially made shoes. Any company open to hiring a disabled person (and they ALL should be, if the person is capable of doing the job with reasonable accomodations) should be okay with you wearing specially made shoes.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Maybe go to school for medical billing coding. I think you have to work in a hospital/doctor's office for a while but after you get some experience you can do it right from your home.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I would love to be a Children's Librarian but have to have a Library degree and that is not an option. Our libraries are small so I could walk around them if I sit much of the time. But the entry jobs are at the Circulation Desk and Reshelving which is all on your feet.
.

What about a bookstore? The independent book store near me has a children's room that's pretty small, and the people who work there often sit behind the desk much of the time offering suggestions. They also have a story hour much like the library?

 

[Gigi22]

Teaching is a very portable skill. One of my friends, a qualified teacher, became the training coordinator for our dept. And, with training adults, you can certainly teach sitting down!

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Not usually. In the bank jobs that I have had, the pack of documents you are entering are already balanced at the branch. If the batch doesn't balance, your machine (could be a check encoding machine, or could be a computer now) will tell you it is out of balance. Then, you just have to go through the stack and determine which figure you entered incorrectly.

Wear your specially made shoes. Any company open to hiring a disabled person (and they ALL should be, if the person is capable of doing the job with reasonable accomodations) should be okay with you wearing specially made shoes.

I have a lot of the same issues as the OP. This 10 key banking thing sounds like something I could do. How did you go about finding this type of job? Was that what your entire day consisted of, just entering numbers? Did you have co-workers that you could talk to to break up the monotony? Any more info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[dizluvah]

I wanted to post to suggest tutoring - you could look into tutoring children, many parents pay a premium for tutoring assistance. You can plan your tutoring sessions in short blocks (couple hours) and you can have a somewhat flexible schedule. I know of someone who works with the school district and is paid by the district (rather than parents) to tutor children - he just sets up appointments and meets them at the local library.

 

[Imzadi]

My answers are in RED.

In the next year or two I will probably need to go back to work--

Great! You have time to practice some skills.

I am also limited to only wearing tennis shoes.

I wear a pair of BLACK tennis like shoes. I prefer them, as they as close to sneakers as I can get, and still wear with dress pants. I get them from K-mart.

http://www.kmart.com/shc/

Then you have my skill set. None.

STOP with this limiting belief!!!!


I have a BS in Early Childhood Education.

You're already ahead of the game!


I really would only be able to do a desk job, that required mostly sitting.
I have zero secretarial skills. I can type but not fast or well. I don't have experience with a multi line phones,

I am familiar with Word and Excel but not very in depth--

I do have "strong oral and written communication" skills.

I learn fast and am an eager learner, and think that I am pretty intelligent and capable. I have a great attitude, work well with others, can take direction well and can take the initiative on things. I am friendly, responsible and reliable. I am a great employee as a person, but I just don't have the skills/background to qualify for much.

ALL of these skills you listed would make you a great receptionist/word processor. Especially for temp agencies.

The faster you type, the better. You have 2 years to up your typing skills AND learn the latest in Word Perfect, Word, & Excel. Word processors are paid more than receptionists. The faster you type the more money you get. Some temp agencies even train their best temps for FREE at certain software programs, as they know it just means more jobs for the both of you.

Otherwise, some community colleges have short courses on how to learn these programs.
As for multi-line phones, EVERY company you will ever work has their own phone system. I have never encountered the same phone system twice in the 3 years I did temping. So, the person who greets you in the morning usually has to show you how THEIR system works.

The trick is, when you get a bunch of calls, you go down the line and put them ALL on hold, by saying, "<Name of company>, please hold." Once they are all on hold, you go back down the line and one by one, connect each call.

But, don't worry, when you first start temping, they will pair you up wit easier jobs. As you gain more experience, they put you on more complicated assignments & systems.

You can stay as a temp, but often, the best temps are offered temp to permanent positions. So, if you find the right position you love, and they love you, happy ending.

You don't have to worry about any resume or other skill set. If not, you keep gaining more experience at each temp assignment.

 

[SandrA9810]

I did accounts payables and receivables. Both mind numbing, and sitting behind the desk all day. I also did inventory control for a bit, but when it came time to do the monthly inventory, I was the one climbing on the rolls of vinyl counting them and marking them against the master list. There wasn't a whole lot of wondering around, but every one did multitask with answering the phones and taking orders.

Since you like scrapbooking, have you talked to a local store about doing a teaching class once a week in the store. Or what about Micheal's that offer different creative classes for kids and adults? Micheal's would probably love to have some one that can work with kids and knows their stuff when it comes to creativity. Might not be full time, but it'd be putting your skills to use.

It's been said often enough that volunteering is almost as good as a job on an application. So don't be afraid to list it.

My aunt had to have a special pair of shoes made for her feet working at the Cracker Barrel. She usually got by with SAS shoes with desk jobs, but being on her feet an entire shift didn't cut it. And of course her's has to be non-skid shoes and totally black. They're actually decent dress shoes, and with a long pair of slacks, you can hardly see them besides the toes. I would look into buy solid black shoes and get a pair of slacks that are long enough to semi cover the shoes without walking on them.

 

[teskak]

How about trying to be a Dreams agent? or maybe trying to get the at home disney dining reservation call worker?

Translates knowledge & love of disney + work at home, so who cares what your shoes look like?