Transition from School to Work

At Last!! Out of School and into a Job: How to make theTransition from School to Work

In making the transition from school to work, there are a number of matters which must be kept in mind. Many people subscribe to the idea that a "good job" is the one with good pay, plenty of holidays, and where you wear good clothes and work in a pleasant environment. While all of these things are important, they ignore the most important factor of all. A good job is one that you enjoy doing. It is one where you feel that you are able to work to a satisfactory standard and where you feel that your efforts are appreciated.

It is for these reasons that satisfactory job placement involves matching the person's interests and skills with the requirements of the job. For a person with ADHD, this is somewhat more difficult than it is for the person who does not have ADHD. The characteristics of ADHD need to be considered in any job placement.

If you decide to consult a vocational counsellor, the first question that should be asked is whether the counsellor knows anything about ADHD. Does the counsellor realise that workers with ADHD are likely to experience problems with working memory and in remembering instructions. Similarly, does the counsellor realise that people with ADHD often do better in jobs which offer variety and that they hate jobs which involve monotonous routines?

Consequently, they may be better in working with people rather than in working in a clerical situation. Because they have difficulty in remembering instructions given all at once, they may require such instructions to be written down for them. People with ADHD are often more observant of their environment. They enjoy challenges and are often very good at "thinking outside the square". Unless the vocational counsellor has a good knowledge of ADHD, he/she will not know the personality traits of the client which must be matched to the job. Nor will the counsellor understand the accommodations which may be necessary to ensure that the job placement is satisfactory.

Applying for a Job

Employers usually require a job application to be submitted in writing. They use these written applications to screen out those applicants who, they think, are least likely to be suitable. This is the first test, that you must pass. If possible have the application neatly typed and printed. Do not use poor quality photocopies, etc. Check the copy for spelling and grammar mistakes and make sure it is correct. It is a good idea to get someone else to proof read it for you. .If you must write your application, do it in your best writing on a clean sheet of paper. As far as the employer is concerned, if you cannot be bothered to put in your best effort for the application, you probably will not put your best effort into the work you are going to be paid for.

It should be remembered that the written application is the first impression the employer gets about you. In preparing you application make sure that you include the information which is requested in the job advertisement.
Set out the application in an effective way. For example, make a list of the qualifications you possess or the jobs you have had Include the part-time jobs you have had and how long you had each job for.

Make a list of all the references you are including. At the end of the application include photocopies of your references. Do not include the originals of your references. These are valuable and may be lost.

Finally, get someone else to look over your application before you send it. They might see something you have missed

The Job Interview

Preparing for a job interview involves a great deal more than merely getting to the interview on time. If you consider the job interview as a competition, the other applicants as your competitors and the job itself as the prize, it becomes apparent that the job interview is something that should be prepared for.

The first essential is to know what the job is all about Usually the employer is only too happy to provide this information, but if necessary, do not be afraid to ask. It is also important to know something about the employer you are making an application to. This will help you to understand the sort of person they are looking for so that you can do your best to show them that you are that person.

Interviews are won or lost in the first four minutes. After that time the employer has largely decided whether you are the person he/she is looking for. The problem is, that in the first four minutes, you are at your most nervous and least likely to present well. By the time you have settled down and are feeling relaxed, it is too late. For this reason, it is a good idea to have a practice interview with a family member or friend. Have that person ask you the sorts of questions which you think the employer is most likely to ask and present your replies as though you were in the real interview. Practice interviewing is very helpful in developing your confidence.

Be very careful in what you say during the interview. Boasting about how you told off a previous employer or about the tricks you have used to avoid work will not impress the employer. Remember your goal is to persuade this employer that you are the person for the job that he is offering. While it may be good for your ego to show how smart you are, the aim is to get the job.

It is important to be neatly and cleanly dressed, in a manner suitable for immediate access to the work environment. Don't arrive in your best suit if you think it is possible that the employer will want to show you around the factory.

It is important to remember that you are trying to make a good impression. Slumping in the chair does not create an impression of alertness.

Leaning all over the interviewer's desk means that you are invading his/her territory. This merely makes the interviewer irritable and uneasy – hardly a recipe for a successful job interview.

Making derogatory remarks about a previous employer will not impress the interviewer. This might indicate that you will talk about this interviewer to the next employer.

Remember that first impressions are the most lasting. Act confidently and try to give the impression that you have the skills and dedication to do the job well. There is a fine line between hiding your talents by failing to tell the employer what you can do and boasting about how clever you are.

It will help you to act confidently if you remember that nothing bad can happen to you in an interview. The worst thing that can happen is that you fail to get the job.

After the interview is over, it is a good idea to sit down in a quiet place and think about how the interview went. In particular, think about the parts that went well, and think about the parts that did not go so well. If you can identify the weaknesses in your interview and decide how you can do better the next time, this might help to make the next interview a success, even if you don't get the job this time.

Being a successful interviewee takes practice. Practice with family and friends is useful up to a point. However, being interview in the real world situation can provide invaluable experience. Consequently, it is important not to become discouraged if the first few interviews are not successful.

Copyright Dr Stephen Dossel, and the ADD Association Queensland. This article may be reprinted but should not be modified in any way. Any such use should be acknowledged in the normal manner and must include the author's name and the source of the article