Finding the right career for you is important, especially as someone with a bleeding or blood disorder. It’s important to think about what interests you, what your talents are, and what excites you. It is also important to think about the type of environment that is right and safe for you. In this section, you will find helpful tips for finding a career that fits you no matter your age.
For people with a bleeding or blood disorder, all jobs are not created equal. Finding a fulfilling career that can also support your health is an important goal. Start by asking yourself a few simple questions:
- How physically demanding is the job I'm thinking about? The more physically demanding the work, the more likely it will be to cause bleeds. Jobs where you are on your feet all day, lifting heavy objects, or traveling often may make it harder for you to lessen bleeds and maintain your health.
- Should I work for myself or for a company? If you are someone who uses a lot of bleeding disorder medication or has other medical expenses, you’ll need to find a job that offers good health insurance. This doesn’t mean you can’t do what you love. You will have to find a balance between what you love to do and a job that provides good benefits and lifestyle support.
- Should I work for a large or a small company? Large companies are more likely to offer comprehensive health coverage and benefits. The best benefits are often in jobs within the government and school districts.
A professional identity can be very important to you. There are many things to think about as you begin this process. One thing to remember is that there is a range of careers that could be a good fit for you. Also, what might be a great fit for you today might not be a good fit for you later in your life.
It’s very important to find as much information as you can about yourself and the jobs you want to do. As you learn more about yourself and your career options, you will begin to narrow down your choices until you find the right career.
The following are some key factors to help you decide. However, this is just a starting point. You should make the most of all of the resources available to you.
Interests and Skills
Work Personality
Lifestyle and Values
Considerations Related to Your Bleeding Disorder
Informational Interviews
Final Step
The first step to explore a career is to consider what you are good at (skills) and what you like (interests). Holland’s Codes is a model of career interests and skills. This model was developed by John Holland, PhD, a psychologist that researched career choice and satisfaction. The model helps you categorize the types of activities in which you are interested and skilled. If you want more information about Holland’s model, please go to Holland’s Occupational Personality Types.
You can review the code and watch this video to determine your three Holland Codes.
Now that you have found your top 3 Holland Codes, you can begin to find careers that match you. Visit O*Net and select your 3 Holland Codes to begin to search for careers that match your codes. You can get information about careers that interest you. There is even information about job openings.
Another important factor is your work personality. Understanding your work personality can help you decide if you want to work in teams or alone. Maybe you like to think about the big picture or you like details. You could like more logical thinking or applying your values to your work. You might consider if you like jobs that need a lot of planning or if you can be spontaneous. When determining your work personality, you can usually assess what is your identity and what are your preferences. A common theory often used to assess people’s work personalities is the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It was developed by a mother and daughter team, Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers. It is based on the theories of psychologist Carl Jung.
The MBTI views your preferences in four different ways of being. You will get a four-letter type after completing the MBTI. You can begin to think about your work personality type by reviewing this site. Scroll to the “type table” in the middle of the page. You can read about each of the 16 personality types to choose yours.
The middle two letters of the four-letter type are often referred to as the “heart of type.” They relate to you at a job. The options for the “heart of type” are SF, ST, NT, or NF. Read about SF, ST, NT, and NF here to help you understand your work personality.
Thinking about how your personality plays a role in your career choice can help you find the careers for you. Here you can read more about your individual MBTI type and how it relates to career choice.
Your values play a key part in your career choice. Think about your job-related beliefs and ideas that affect how you feel about your job. When thinking about values related to your job it’s important to separate core values from other important values. Meeting your core values is necessary for the job you choose. Other important values are not necessary but still important to you. Here is a comprehensive list of work values that you can begin to sort through. The list will give you a good sense of what are your core values.
You might also want to think how much you want to earn at a job and what kind of schedule you want. Is it important to have time outside of work to explore educational opportunities? What is your definition of work-life balance? It may be helpful to list all your lifestyle factors to help you to narrow down your career choices.
Finding a fulfilling career that can also support you maintaining your health is important. You may also need to think about the following:
- How physically demanding are the jobs you’re considering? How will your bleeding disorder be affected by the physical demands of this job? Think about whether the job will cause more bleeds or other injuries.
- Will this career likely have the health insurance and related benefits that you need? Certain types of careers may not offer the benefits that you need for your health and well-being. What types of benefits can you expect in this type of career? Identify if there are jobs in the career path or organizations that might give benefits. For example, a graphic designer could work freelance, but could also work for a large organization with health-insurance and other benefits.
- What needs do you have in particular to how your bleeding disorder affects your life? You should consider your past health history and what issues you may have. This is about your needs currently and in the near future.
With the information from the previous sections you should now be able to narrow down your career options.
With your remaining list, you can now find in-depth information about those career options. You can begin by using the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Once you have a final list, you may set up Informational Interviews. These interviews are with people who hold the jobs that you are considering. Here is a guide to help you get started with your informational interviews.
As you meet with people for informational interviews, you will likely want to meet with more than one person. Different people might have unique experiences to share. It is important to make sure you meet with people who enjoy their job! If they also have a bleeding disorder, you might also be able to find out how their bleeding disorder fits with their career.
As you listen, think about what you know about yourself. Is this career a fit? Do you have concerns? Think about if these concerns are challenges you can overcome. It is helpful to think about what you might need to be successful in this career.
The relationships that you develop through the interviews are important. These people may one day become your mentors or colleagues. Remember to stay in touch, be gracious, and always think of the relationship as a two-way street. It can be difficult to consider networking relationships as mutual, as people often feel as if they are in need of information, support, or other contacts, while another person receives nothing. Find ways to give back to them. You could mentor people whom they send your way in the future and continue the relationship beyond when you need something.
After gathering all of this information and talking about it with family and friends you will be closer to choosing a career that’s right for you.
Below are some resources for applying and interviewing for jobs. You are well on your way to your new career!
The content on this page has been provided by Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin, a licensed psychologist and executive coach.