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Not Every Dream Job Starts With a Job Title


When I recently met Julia, one of our newest clients, she did not begin by naming a job title.

She described a task.


Julia told me she would like to work sorting items at Goodwill. Her answer was specific, practical and connected to something she could picture herself doing.


That distinction stayed with me.


Many career conversations begin with the question, “What job do you want?” But that can be difficult to answer, especially for someone entering the workforce, returning after time away or still learning about the different opportunities available in the community.

A person may not know the official title of the position they want. They may not be familiar with the language employers use in job descriptions.


But they may already know what kind of work they would enjoy.


Starting With the Work Itself

When Julia talked about sorting items, she gave us valuable information.


She identified a task that interested her.


That does not automatically tell us that every position involving sorting will be right for her. It also does not guarantee that a particular employer will have an appropriate opening.


It gives us a place to begin.


From there, an employment conversation can explore questions such as:

·       What does Julia enjoy about sorting and organizing?

·       Does she prefer working with products, documents or other materials?

·       Would she enjoy following a consistent process?

·       What type of workplace environment does she prefer?

·       What schedule and transportation options are practical?

·       What additional duties might be part of a particular position?


The goal is not to make assumptions based on one answer. It is to listen carefully and learn more about the individual.


Why Job Titles Can Make Career Exploration Harder

Job titles are not always clear.


A “retail associate” might operate a register, assist customers, organize merchandise, receive donations, maintain displays or complete several of these duties during the same shift.


A “warehouse team member” might sort products, prepare orders, move inventory or update records.


Two positions with the same title can involve very different responsibilities. At the same time, similar tasks can appear in jobs with completely different titles.


This is why asking only, “What position do you want?” may not give us the complete picture.


Other questions can be equally valuable:

·       What activities help you stay engaged?

·       Do you enjoy organizing or categorizing things?

·       Do you prefer working directly with customers or concentrating on a task?

·       Would you rather have a consistent routine or different assignments?

·       Do you enjoy preparing, assembling, cleaning, creating or helping?

·       What kind of work would you like to learn more about?


These questions make career exploration more concrete. They can also help a job seeker participate more actively in the conversation.


Listening Before Matching

After more than 20 years of working with individuals with disabilities, I have learned that listening is one of the most important parts of employment support.


It can be tempting to move quickly toward available job openings. But an available position is not necessarily the right position for every person.


Before exploring a match, we need to understand the individual’s interests, abilities, preferences and employment goals.


That does not mean every preference will be available in every workplace. It means the person’s voice should remain central to the process.


Employment support should not be about deciding what someone else must do. It should help the individual explore realistic possibilities and make informed employment choices.



Turning an Interest Into Employment Exploration

Julia’s interest in sorting items is the beginning of the conversation—not its conclusion.

Our next steps may include learning more about the responsibilities involved, exploring possible opportunities at Goodwill locations in the area and considering whether available positions align with her goals.


The process may also involve preparing for applications, discussing transportation, learning about workplace expectations and identifying other employers with similar tasks.


Employment Network cannot promise that a particular employer will have an opening or that a specific position will be secured. Employers make their own hiring decisions, and every opportunity has its own requirements.


What we can do is listen, prepare, explore and support the individual throughout the employment process.


Sometimes, one preferred task can lead us to several possibilities that the job seeker had not previously considered.


What Employers Can Learn From This Approach

Julia’s story also offers a helpful reminder for employers.

Job seekers may connect more easily with a position when the actual work is described clearly.


Instead of relying only on a broad title, employers can explain:

·       The most important daily tasks

·       How frequently each task is performed

·       The general pace and environment

·       How instructions are provided

·       Which duties are essential

·       What training a new employee receives


This information helps all applicants understand the opportunity. It can be especially useful for candidates who recognize tasks more easily than abstract job titles.


Clear descriptions can also help employment professionals explore whether a candidate’s interests and skills align with the employer’s needs.


A Goal Does Not Need to Sound Complicated

As summer winds down and organizations begin planning for the coming months, many people are thinking about what they would still like to accomplish this year.


A career goal does not need to begin with a perfect résumé, a five-year plan or knowledge of every position in the local job market.


Sometimes it begins with a simple and honest statement:

“This is the kind of work I would like to try.”

That statement matters.


It gives the job seeker a voice. It gives the employment professional a direction. And it creates an opportunity to ask better questions.


What Julia Reminded Me

Meeting Julia reminded me that people often tell us something important when we give them the time and space to describe work in their own words.


She did not need to arrive with an official job title.


She arrived with an interest.


Now, our responsibility is to listen carefully, learn more and help her explore what may be possible.


I am grateful that Julia trusted us with her employment goal, and I look forward to supporting her through the next steps of her journey.



Begin With What You Know

If you or a family member is exploring employment, try beginning with the work itself.

  • What tasks do you enjoy?

  • What activities make you feel focused or accomplished?

  • What kind of environment helps you do your best?


You do not need to know the exact job title before beginning the conversation.


Employment Network of Southwest Florida helps individuals with disabilities explore employment goals, prepare for opportunities and work toward obtaining and maintaining employment in Naples and the surrounding Southwest Florida community.


Contact Employment Network of SW Florida

Office: 3050 Horseshoe Drive North, Suite 158, Naples, FL 34104

Appointments are required.




DISCLAIMER

This article provides general educational information and does not guarantee employment, placement with a particular employer or the availability of a specific position. Employment Network does not represent Goodwill Industries or make hiring decisions on its behalf. Employment opportunities and service needs are evaluated individually.

 

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