Your job options
There are many different jobs available for you. You might want to become a:
- chef
- mechanic
- shop worker
- librarian
- hairdresser
- teacher.
Every job will ask for different things for you to be able to apply for the role. Some may be skills based, while others you may need qualifications.
What having a job means to me
Mencap have put together a great video to help you to understand why having a job is great. Hear from many people across the UK why having a job is important to them, and how it makes them feel independent.
Before you find the right job for you
If you are unsure what you need for a job, you can find advice from:
- your careers advisor at your school or college. If you do not have a careers advisor contact the careers helpline for teenagers
- CXK by taking an online careers quiz
- Mencap - finding work (easy read)
- Ambitious about Autism (employment toolkits)
- the National Careers Service
- Scope
- your family and friends who are working.
If you are a parent or a carer looking for advice to help their young person visit the Youth Employment UK website.
Your options
Whether you're ready to start a full time job or you want to gain skills to help you progress, here are some choices and additional support for you.
An apprenticeship is a paid job, where you earn and learn. You will spend about 4 days as an apprentice, and 1 day at a college, training centre or at work.
To be an apprentice, you need to be at least 16 years old. Most apprentices are between the ages of 16 to 24 years old, but you can be older.
An apprenticeship can be in customer service, engineering, hairdressing or mechanics. Qualifications range from Level 2 to 7, and take at least 1 year to complete. This may take longer if you're doing a higher-level apprenticeship.
To complete your apprenticeship, you will pass a qualification or an assessment.
Extra support
To find out more about apprenticeships:
Depending on the type of job you apply for, the hours you will work will change. Usually jobs are either:
- full time (working 35 to 40 hours a week)
- part time (working less than 35 hours a week)
- flexible (working hours to suit you)
- casual work (you can pick and choose when you work).
To find jobs near you, visit:
- our jobs section
- Disability Confident Employers (gov.uk), a website showing all companies who employ disabled people
- Careers with disabilities
- Even Break
- JobsinKent
- Indeed
- Kent Jobs.
For help finding a job contact Kent Supported Employment.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) funds internships and supported internships. An internship or a supported internship is unpaid work experience that lasts up to 1 year. A traineeship lasts up to 6 months.
Once the 6 months or year have passed, you are ready to progress to an apprenticeship or employment.
Placements are available for young people aged 16 to 24 with an education, health and care (EHC) plan. You will learn skills for work with the aim of moving into long term paid employment at the end of the internship.
For more information:
- find out more about supported internships
- visit the government website
- visit the Bemix website for advice and support for young people and for employers
- visit the East Kent College website who offer supported internship courses and support.
You may want to start your own business and become self employed. Your business could be something that you're interested in, or a business that you haven't seen anywhere else before.
Working for yourself, can be challenging, stressful but very rewarding. There are lots of organisations and free online resources that can help you turn your idea into a business.
For advice and guidance you can:
- contact your local Job Centre Plus office and speak with the Disability Employment Advisor (DEA)
- visit the Kent and Medway Business Hub
- use the Ask a Kent Librarian service to get start-up business information as well as mailing lists. The library has free business resources for members
- contact the Association for Disabled Professionals
- visit Scope's website for:
Supported employment gives you the opportunity to get support from a work coach. They work with you and your employer to get you an apprenticeship or internship. Or they may support you in finding work related learning.
Work experience is a temporary role often unpaid.
It's a great way to build your skills and try out a certain job or career that interests you.
Work related learning gives you the opportunity to start to work, and learn at the same time. You may get a qualification in customer service or as a gym instructor, for example.
Volunteering allows you to support your local community. It helps you to improve your skills, make new friends and advance your career. Volunteering is not free and you will give up your own time to help out.
Find volunteering opportunities near you.
Watch this video from National Careers Service to learn top tips for volunteering.
Apply for a job
Once you have found the job you want, you will need to apply and hopefully get ready for an interview.