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From Scholarships to Job Applications: Compiling Your Toolkit for Success

In April, join the LightHouse Youth Employment Series, YES, workshop focusing on the importance of preparing oneself prior to arriving for a job or scholarship interview and how best to compile your toolkit for success. Students will have the experience of completing a job application, drafting resumes, learning about cover letters, and practicing interview skills all while connecting with their peers. YES workshops are monthly weekend-long learning experiences emphasizing the vocational enrichment of low vision and blind youth, providing access to a multifaceted array of mentorship, employment readiness skills, and alternative accessible techniques.

The YES Workshop in April will support students so they can confidently arrive to an interview prepared to highlight their strengths and explain their assets. Students will build their toolkit for success by enhancing their understanding of how to complete job or scholarship applications, learn and draft resumes and cover letters, as well as apply their newly acquired knowledge in mock interviews. The weekend is spent learning from blind and low vision mentors and engaging in creative hands-on activities which further support youth to explore and achieve their individualized and professional goals.

Workshop Learning Objectives:

1. Participating youth will have the opportunity to engage in job and career exploration and learn the necessary steps needed to prepare for job interviews in a variety of industries. They will gain an increased understanding on the latest trends employers use when evaluating resumes for internships and jobs.
2. Youth will gain valuable information on post-secondary and comprehensive transition program resources and application processes. They will receive information on creating brag sheets and personal essays to prepare for scholarship and college applications.
3. Participants will learn and practice job readiness soft skills and employer expectations such as effective communication and teamwork, punctuality, highlighting your strengths, interview etiquette, and have crucial discussions regarding the importance of independent living skills required to be successful in the workplace.
4. Transitional age youth will also elevate their attitude and confidence from meeting with successful blind mentors who have extensive experience in the areas of searching and applying for scholarships and jobs.
5. Participating students will gain perspectives on disability disclosure, self-advocacy, and understanding their rights during the application and interview process.

Things to Bring:

1. A notetaking device or implement (braille note, pen, slate and stylus, phone with keyboard, laptop, etc.)
2. Necessities you may need such as money for transportation to and from the workshop or personal medication.

If you are interested in participating in the April YES Weekend Workshop, please contact your Department of Rehabilitation counselor to discuss workshop attendance and authorization. If you have any questions or would like to pay for your participation in the workshop, please contact Ann Wai-Yee Kwong, Transition Program Specialist, by email at youth@lighthouse-sf.org or by phone at 415-694-7328. Each workshop costs $950 to attend for the entire weekend.

Please note, space for this program is limited to 15 students and workshop attendance must be confirmed one week prior.