For many people, a college diploma is a ticket to the type of career that will provide fulfillment and a comfortable standard of living. The statistics speak for themselves: the higher your academic degree, the higher your average salary and the less likely you will be unemployed. But a disparity exists for college students with disabilities: they tend to have higher unemployment rates and lower wages than their nondisabled peers.
You can lessen the disparity, however. It is extremely important that you contact the career center on your campus early in your college career. The sooner you begin to focus on choosing a career, the sooner you can begin to adequately prepare yourself.
One valuable tool often overlooked by all students, but more so by those with disabilities, is internship or co-op experience. Why is this an important tool?
- Relevant work experience on your resume helps distinguish you from other applicants.
- A practical work experience gives you the opportunity to “test-drive” your career choices. Far more valuable than anything you can learn in a book, an internship gives you a firsthand look at the true nature of the work and allows you to see what a life in your chosen field is like. This is a real opportunity to compare your strengths and weaknesses to the duties of the job.
Given the cultural prejudices against students with disabilities, you will need every advantage if you are going to compete successfully for your desired career. Practical work experience in your field can be a huge advantage for you. Most importantly: your success in an internship or co-op program addresses the concerns that a potential employer may have about your ability to perform the essential functions of a position.
And, you should know that a significant percentage of all internships turn into offers of full-time employment upon graduation. This means, a successful internship or co-op experience may be your ticket to your first job offer.