More on Looking for Employment

Dear Kayla,

I would like to write a little more about going back to work.

It can be difficult to choose precisely what sort of job or volunteer work to look for. I have heard a lot of people say that they don't even know where to start. It can be very difficult to know what you do and don't need, what you do and don't like, what you can and can't handle, until you try it out. People close to you might have some suggestions, but no one really knows for sure what they can and can't do until they try it.

I suggest starting with whatever interests you. Try to think of some sort of work or activity you would like to try. Don't worry about whether it is possible to find a job with that interest, financially viable, or any other limitation. Just think of things you would like to do.

Then go on a large job or volunteer site such as www.craigslist.org, www.monster.com, www.indeed.com, www.idealist.org, or www.volunteermatch.org. Read through different job or volunteer notices. Don't apply to jobs or do anything other than read the notices. Try to figure out which posts interest you.

Try to look for themes. What do these interests and notices have in common? What could you reasonably do now?  What do the posts which most interest you require? What could you work toward in the short term?

Once again, you need to start with what you can do. Once you start you can gain more of a sense of what you can and can't do and what to work toward in the future. Starting is the most difficult piece. But hopefully if you look carefully both within yourself and at websites and possibly other material from the outside world, you can work to start bridging these gaps.