[nfbwatlk] Job hunting

[debby phillips]

Well, I just spent the evening looking at jobs.  I found a 
company that I'm going to contact, though I think their call 
center jobs are all temporary.  The last one they posted was for 
people to help folks with the Affordable Care Act.  I wish I'd 
known about this job last winter.  I might have applied for it.  
It would have only lasted four months, but it was a great call 
center job.

So okay, I have questions.  We talk about how blindness shouldn't 
get in the way of living the life we want.  So right now, I want 
to get a job and I pretty much don't care what I do.  My broad 
goal is customer service.  Boy, that includes everything from 
truck driver to selling cars at Camp Chevrolet.  Lol.  So here 
are a few jobs that I'm wondering if blind people have done, and 
how; cashier at a store; there also is a job for a book seller at 
Barnes and Noble.  I love books, and wonder if you all know of 
anyone who's done this kind of job.  Also, what about selling or 
working at an insurance company like State Farm? (They seem to be 
hiring like crazy around here for whatever reason).

Okay, next question.  I have to go to the Employment Service 
Division Office for a three-hour class on Monday.  (If I don't 
go, I could be denied unemployment benefits).  If I call them 
tomorrow and tell them that I'm blind and will need assistance, 
will I get it? I have a folder with my most current resume, and 
applications that I've done, which I'll take.  But Craig says 
that he doesn't think he should go with me, that they should give 
me stuff in an accessible format (which they won't).  The purpose 
of this class is to learn how to write resumes, I guess, and some 
other stuff.  Other then showing up to fulfill their requirement, 
is this going to be a waste of time? (I don't really have that 
many sighted friends here, so if Craig doesn't go with me and 
they can't or won't help me, is this just going to be a three 
hour time of frustration?

It irritates me that I already know that I'm going to walk in the 
door and they will all freak out because they won't know what to 
do about this blind lady who's going to come to their class.  I 
don't mean to sound whiny.  I probably do.  Sorry about that.  
But any suggestions about how to approach this class and at least 
get something out of it, would be appreciated.

I guess I'd best go to bed.  After the elections, I'm afraid 
we're all going to find ourselves falling backward about 20 or 30 
years.    Peace,    Debby