AbilityLinks would like to thank Fox Valley Project With Industry (PWI) for developing this questionnaire. "Assessing your Job Seeking Skills" is an essential first step and may be a good indicator that you could benefit from Fox Valley PWI's Job Seeking Skills Training Program or one of the other
AbilityLinks Employment Programs.
Questions
Basic Job Search Considerations
1. Do you know what skills you have to offer an employer? yes no
2. Can you match your skills to the requirements of a job you seek? yes no
3. Can you identify five (5) personal qualities or traits that will help you in the type of work you seek? yes no
4. Do you know what the responsibilities and tasks are for the job you seek? yes no
5. Are you aware of and understand the job requirements for your job focus as they relate to your disability? yes no
6. Is your resume relevant to the type of job you seek? yes no
7. Does your resume sell your skills and present outcomes that show good working performance in your past positions? yes no
8. Have you contacted people to ask permission to use their name(s) as a reference? yes no
9. If you are receiving disability benefits (cash benefits or medical insurance), do you know how working will impact your benefits? yes no
Workplace Considerations
1. Does your skill level fit with the salary you want to make? yes no
2. Do you know the top three or four qualities of a good employee? yes no
3. Do you know the meaning of "good business work ethic" and why it is important? yes no
4. Is the job(s) you are interested in available in your local labor market? Can you name local employers that commonly hire for the position you are interested in? yes no
Job Interview Considerations
1. Do you have a 30-second summary? yes no
2. Can you explain your work history, including gaps in employment? yes no
3. Can you describe how you used your skills in past experiences (paid and unpaid)? yes no
4. Can you describe how you solved problems or made decisions in previous jobs? yes no
5. Can you explain your personal qualities that will help you succeed in the job you seek? yes no
6. Do you know what questions are illegal and how to handle them if they come up in an interview? yes no
7. Do you know the types of questions and topics to stay away from in an interview? yes no
8. Do you know if and when to disclose your disability? yes no
9. Do you know what accommodations you may need and how to ask for them? yes no
10. Do you have solution(s) to your accommodation needs and can you explain them? yes no
11. Do you know how to close an interview? yes no
Technical Considerations
1. Are you able to use a computer keyboard? yes no
2. Can you run basic software applications (word processing, spreadsheets, etc) including specific applications for a particular job you seek? yes no
3. Can you save and manage files on a computer? yes no
4. Do you know how to access the Internet and send and receive email messages? yes no
5. Are your computer skills appropriate for the position you seek? yes no
Next Steps If you checked “No” to any of the questions presented in this assessment, we encourage you to contact an
AbilityLinks job training and placement program such as Fox Valley PWI.
Fox Valley PWI offers job-seeking skills training to individuals with disabilities or ongoing health conditions living in Kendall, DuPage or Kane Counties in Illinois. Call for an appointment at (630) 801-5100 or send an email to fvpwi@aol.com. For more general information, visit www.foxvalleypwi.org.
For additional assistance with finding a job training and placement program near you, contact AbilityLinks to take advantage of our human touch.