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Build skills and prepare for work

Preparing for work involves some planning! Use simple, practical tips to help your child build work skills, practice job tasks and prepare for workplace routines.

Employment skills

Employment skills include understanding what's expected of an employee and knowing how to show responsibility and motivation on the job. Building responsibility may seem like a difficult task for youth with high support needs, but it simply implies working hard and being expected to do the best they can. Part of learning responsibility is trying new things and handling failure.

Ways to help your child prepare for work

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You can work with your child to build important skills:

  • Encourage dressing neatly for school or activities.

  • Practice speaking clearly and listening carefully.

  • Have them finish tasks they start.

  • Give step-by-step instructions and check progress.

  • Encourage trying new things with a smile.

  • Practice saying what they need or want respectfully.

  • Set expectations and encourage your child to complete tasks independently and on time.

You can also help your child practice job skills by role-playing common job situations such as asking for help, taking feedback or greeting a supervisor. Learn more about how you can prepare your child for work »

Charting the LifeCourse's Employment Portfolios can help you and your child explore and plan for work. The portfolios include a one-page profile, life trajectory worksheet and integrated supports star worksheet. Use them to explore goals, steps to take and potential supports.

There are portfolios for:

  • Exploring Employment (PDF)
    This portfolio helps people explore what kind of job or career they want. It helps consider things to try and what supports will be needed.

  • Planning Employment (PDF)
    This portfolio is a good fit for people who have already thought about or have a pretty good idea of what kind of job they want. It will help plan specific goals, list steps to take, and consider needed supports.

  • Family Perspective on Employment (PDF)
    Families can use this portfolio to organize and express their own vision and opinions on employment outcomes for their family member as well as support they might need to reach their employment goals.

  • It's never too early to create a resume, and it can help with landing that first job. Review tips for writing a high school resume [need link] to help get your child get started.

  • Help your child practice filling out job applications using a sample application template (DOCX).

  • Job interviews can be scary, but confidence grows with practice. Review this detailed job interview guide [need link] to help your child make the best possible impression during job interviews. 

  • To start a job search, your young adult will need to provide the employer certain types of identification. Make sure they have a passport, driver's license or other state ID and their social security card.

Check out Minnesota's career exploration and job search resource — CareerForce. CareerForce offers online and in-person services to help people identify education and training programs, gain skills and find jobs. It also provides information about job search tools like interest assessments and resumes. You can use the website to find a CareerForce office location near you.

Video resource

From PACER Center: How to prepare your young adult with a disability for work

Watch the video »

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