Types of Employment Definitions Employment doesn't look the same for everyone. After or even during high school, you may have the chance to explore different kinds of jobs. Each type of employment has its own benefits and considerations, and understanding the options can help you decide what works best for you. Here are some common types of employment:
Full-time employment. To be considered full-time, an employee is usually required to work 40 hours a week. The schedule of these hours can vary (e.g. daytime, nighttime), but this often works out to be five 8-hour days a week. Full time employment may come with benefits like paid time off, health insurance, and retirement plans. Full time employees typically work for a specific organization or company, and employment may continue each year as long as the employee meets the job requirements. An example is an office worker working Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm for a health care company. Part-time employment. With part-time employment, employees work fewer hours each week compared to full-time (e.g. 20-30 hours a week). Individual schedules will vary depending on the job; however, part-time employment may allow more schedule flexibility. While some part-time roles may offer healthcare and other benefits, many do not. Part-time employees typically work for a specific organization or company, and employment may continue each year as long as the employee meets the job requirements. An example is a retail salesperson working 25 hours a week for an assistive technology company. Contract employment. In this type of employment, employees with a specific skillset are hired for a specific project, task, and for a limited time period. An example is a math tutor that works 20 hours a week (4-hour shifts, 5 days a week) for a university each semester, with no hours scheduled during school breaks. Contract employment does not usually offer benefits. Self-Employment . Instead of working for a company or organization, employees who are self-employed work for themselves. They typically decide the number of hours they will work each month, are responsible for promoting the services they provide, and manage finances for their own company (e.g. supplies, service charges, taxes). An example is an individual owning and running their own online candle shop. Customized Employment (also known as job carving). This type of employment is designed for individuals who experience specific barriers to employment, including individuals with disabilities who benefit from additional workplace supports. Customized employment adjusts work tasks to utilize the employee’s unique strengths while also meeting the employer’s needs. This type of employment may require partnership with Vocational Rehabilitation, gathering information about the employee, and engaging in negotiation with an employer. For example, a company works with VR to develop a technology support role that addresses the needs of the company for a blind individual with excellent assistive technology skills. Supported Employment. Individuals with disabilities that experience significant barriers to employment may consider supported employment in partnership with a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor. In this type of employment, an individual applies for an existing position and, after being hired, receives individualized support to help them learn and complete their required work tasks. Support may come in the form of a job coach. Internship. This type of employment is a short-term job or work experience that helps an individual learn about a career or industry. Interns usually work for a company or organization to gain skills, training, and real-world experience. Internships can be paid or unpaid, and they’re often done by students or people starting a new career.Work Environments Each type of employment can happen in different environments. Understanding these options can help you think about what setting might help you do your best work. Below are the most common work environments you may encounter:
In Person. In this format, all work tasks are completed within a physical work environment, such as an office, warehouse, business, farm, base of operations, etc. Employees are required to commute to and from their assigned work location. Remote or Work from Home. Employees complete all tasks from a home office or other location. Meetings occur over virtual platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Commuting to physical locations will likely not be required. Hybrid. Employees work in a combination of remote and in-person environments. For example, an employee may have the option to work four days a week from home but may be required to travel to their place of employment one day a week.Guiding Questions What are your employment and career goals? Do you know what types of employment may be offered for your career field of interest? To what extent have you shared your employment plans with your family and teachers? What are their thoughts? Have you met with a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselor? Have you explored various types of employment that may currently address your interests and needs? What work environment(s) may be the best fit for you? Why? What are you most excited or nervous about when thinking about employment? Do you know anybody personally who has worked in the type of employment you are interested in? Resources For Exploring Your Career Interests My Next Move from O*Net This virtual platform houses great free resources for exploring career pathways. These resources can also help you identify work expectations for various careers of interest. Note: the O*Net Interest Profiler assessment, found under the Discover You Interests section, is not fully screen reader accessible. We recommend that you or your child/student complete this assessment with support.
Vocational Rehabilitation (EMPOWER VI) Vocational Rehabilitation is both a state and federally funded program that supports people with disabilities to explore, prepare for, gain, and maintain employment.
For Understanding Various Employment Types Types of Employment: 12 Different Work Types (Day Off) This website explains 12 different types of jobs. It helps learners understand how each type works, what the pros and cons are, and which kind of job might be best for different situations.
Customized Employment: A Path to Meaningful Work (APH) Customized Employment creates tailored employment solutions that address employee strengths and employer needs by emphasizing collaboration between the individual, the employer, and support staff. For adults, Customized Employment is available through Vocational Rehabilitation services.
What Is Customized Employment? (Disability Help) This website explains how customized employment helps people with disabilities find jobs that match their strengths and interests. It explains how employers, job seekers, and support teams work together to create flexible, inclusive jobs that help everyone succeed.
The Basics of Supported Employment: What You Need to Know (Equalworks) This website explains how supported employment helps people with disabilities find and keep jobs by giving them personalized support. It explains how teamwork, job coaching, and inclusive workplaces help individuals succeed and feel valued.
How to Find Internships- Best Websites & Tips (Career Sidekick) This page is a guide to help individuals find internships. It shares the best websites to search, tips for standing out, and advice on using school resources, networking, and creativity to get internship opportunities.
Job Seeker’s Toolkit, Prep and Resources (APH) This resource helps you explore job-search resources and information on preparing yourself as a person who is blind or has low vision to locate and land a job you love.
For Other Considerations Relevant to Employment Postsecondary Education Options (EMPOWER VI) Understanding the education or training requirements for any job or career you wish to pursue is important. This document reviews some of the most common postsecondary education options (e.g., 4-year universities, community colleges, apprenticeships) and lists resources for you to explore.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Transition Topic This EMPOWER VI resource provides information about SSI and features resources that can help you explore how to work while receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration.
Informal Supports to Strengthen Student Transition and Outside Agencies to Strengthen Student Transition will help you explore employment supports that may be available to you through your local community or through agencies like Vocational Rehabilitation.
Transportation Transition Topic Thinking about how you will get to and from your place of employment is important. This resource will review transportation resources that may be available to you in your community.
Course: Employment Accommodations Through this short course, you can learn about employment accommodations, laws that support employment accommodations, and the accommodation request process in employment settings. You can also find a quick overview via this resource: Employment Accommodations Transition Topic.
