There are many things to consider when you are about to start looking for work, or beginning a new job. This section will help you to identify the people who can advise you about career choices, help with interview preparation, give guidance about work experience and volunteering and advise about the support mechanisms available, such as the Access to Work scheme.
Find your nearest Careers Adviser
Our services across the UK, all provide similar support for you, if you are looking for advice and guidance about employment visit our Finding a careers advisor pages for further information in relation to where you live.
The Access to Work Scheme
When you are looking for work it's really important that you know about the Access to Work scheme. It's a Jobcentre Plus programme and can pay for things like:
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taxis to and from work - really useful where transport links are poor
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a large monitor and screen magnification software for your work computer
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a support worker driver to get you to meetings that are otherwise hard to reach
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hi-tech low vision aids to help carry out your work.
The support that you'll get will depend on the job you are doing and your needs. You'll be assessed by an Access to Work Assessor who will discuss the support you are likely to need and look at the requirements of your job. But be prepared for the Access to Work process to only begin near or maybe even after your start date.
It's really useful to find out as much as you can about the Access to Work Scheme before your interview. Employers often worry about the potential costs of employing a person with a sight problem because they think the equipment and support needed may be expensive. Many employers don't know about the Scheme, so it's a good idea to find out as much as you can about it. You'll then be able to talk about the Scheme at your interview and reassure the employer that support is available and that it won't cost them lots of money.
Further information about the Access to Work scheme, including processes, timescales and contacts, is available in the RNIB Employment section.
Work experience and volunteering
Work experience and volunteering are a crucial part of moving on and allows you to have hands-on experience of what it's like to work in different environments. Learn how work experience can benefit your CV, how to find opportunities and how the Access to Work scheme could support your placement on our Work experience and volunteering pages.
Casestudies from other young people
Find out about other blind and partially sighted young peoples journeys through education to employment on our 'Case studies: starting work' pages.
Other useful information...
In this section, you can also find useful information on:
Employment mentoring services