People With Disabilities Can Build a Bright Future in the Business World
Guest Blogger: Kelli Brewer
As an intelligent young adult, you have a bright future ahead of you, and there's no reason a disability should hold you back. It can be daunting for anyone to choose colleges and career paths, and you have unique considerations. You have many options to choose from to get a quality education and training for a successful career, though. The business field is wide open with many specialties. Mapping out your educational future can help you find and decide which career paths are the right fit for you. Allendale Charter Township shares the following tips!
Choose the Right School
These days, most colleges and universities have both in-person and online programs, so you can decide which option works best for you. If you choose an on-campus program, some schools are especially disability-friendly and have great business schools as well. There are more than a dozen majors that will prepare you for a lucrative business career, such as accounting, marketing, international business, investments, and securities, just to name a few.
Land a Great Internship
You don't have to wait until after graduation to build on-the-job experience. CNBC notes many companies offer summer internships (paid and unpaid) to undergrads, beginning as early as the summer after your freshman year. Websites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Idealist, and Internships.com have searchable, regularly updated databases you can scan for possible opportunities. Landing that ideal business internship can be a challenge, but it's not impossible. You may find that connections through family, friends, or co-workers often allow you to get your foot in the door, and nearly any internship will help build your resume with relevant work experience.
Make sure you put together a professional-looking resume and cover letter and polish up your online presence. Media audits are common for employers, so ensure they will discover your talents, skills, and accomplishments when they look. Keep your personal accounts private, to be safe.
Prepare for Your First Job
Confidence is a good place to begin. Your business school has prepared you with the right knowledge and skills, so you must convince yourself and your potential employer that you are the right person for the job. Get help (from a professional or a knowledgeable friend), make your resume top-notch, research how to write a killer cover letter, and be ready to shine at your interview.
As The Muse notes, conveying confidence can play a big role in whether or not your interview is a smashing success. Be honest about your disability and what you can do or cannot do, and plan to take the lead as needed — your employer isn't allowed to ask. On the other hand, don't share any information about your health or limitations that is not necessary. The focus should be on your qualifications, training, and what you bring to the table.
Continue Your Education
Whether you choose to keep going right after undergrad school or go part-time while you're working, pursuing an MBA is a great way to advance your career and maximize your earning potential. On top of that, you will learn valuable leadership and management skills and develop tools to assess your performance and increase awareness about your management style. Some universities allow you to attend classes virtually, too.
You could even use your experience and new credentials to launch a business of your own in your niche field. You will have learned how to navigate the process in your master's program, and with some support, a small business loan, and a little luck, you could be positioned at a whole new level in your career in a few short years.
There are many resources available for people with disabilities to access the information and skills they need to have a rewarding, lucrative career. If business school sounds like your next step, schedule a consultation with an academic advisor to get started on your journey.
People With Disabilities Can Build a Bright Future in the Business WorldGuest Blogger: Kelli Brewer
