My Employment Journey

By Anna Rubinfien

Hi everyone, I've been working for 11 years. Here's some advice for people just starting out.

Think about places which have a good vibe, and when you visit, ask the employees if they like working. Ask why they do or don't. Ask if they would recommend being there. Ask the manager, 'Are you hiring'? If they are, ask to fill out an application. In terms of making an impression, I just try to be myself. In terms of peoples' reactions to me being disabled, I put that out of my mind. 

If you're just starting out after school, my advice is to find your passion, and work with something you're passionate about. For me, I work with people with disabilities, people who are just learning to be themselves and get a job for the first time. My first job was at Ada's Cafe, which is a cafe in Palo Alto, 

I don't think I'm better than everyone else, but where I work, I notice that I'm early and on time more than other people, and I like to help out by being on time or asking if they need me to come in on time on days when I'm not scheduled. Managers get stressed about people who don't show up, and they think of me as really reliable. A lot of disabled people don't like sudden changes, and that's true of me -- which means if I commit to being in a place I will be there. The managers appreciate that, it's a difference that helps them.