How To Find A New Career With Seasonal Jobs And Ticket To Work

Seasonal work can be a powerful, low-risk way to find a new career when you are receiving Social Security disability benefits. Because these roles are short-term by design, they offer quick employment, the space to try different types of work, and discover what environments and schedules best support your health and long-term goals. You can also use seasonal work to learn new skills, help fill gaps on a resume, and possibly even tap into a permanent role.

If you are interested in returning to work but unsure how to go about it and which jobs to consider, many questions may come up, such as:

• What is the best way to find a new career?
• What is the easiest career to switch to?
• Are there seasonal jobs for people with disabilities?
• What is the best job for a person with a disability?

Together with the Ticket To Work (TTW) Program from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and help from Allsup Employment Services (AES), you can use seasonal employment to “test-drive” career options while protecting your SSDI benefits during your transition.

Through using the TTW Program and seasonal work, you are likely to answer these questions and know what to do next.

Start With Clear Goals

Considering what you want to learn or what types of work and environments you enjoy can be helpful before looking for seasonal work. Having clear goals can make your experience easier.

Here’s some things to think about:

• What industry do I want to try (retail, office work, healthcare, hospitality)?
• What environment will help me move from part- to full-time work?
• Do I work better in quiet places or busy ones?
• What tasks do I enjoy doing?
• What can my body and mind handle comfortably?

Want to see if office work fits your energy levels? You might try a temporary admin job. Need flexibility or quiet? Look for remote, part-time or gig work. When you know what you want to learn or what environments work for you, choosing jobs that help answer your questions and find a new career becomes easier.

Choose Jobs That Build Useful Skills

Seasonal work can help you develop skills that many employers want. Most short-term jobs let you practice things like talking with customers, staying organized, solving problems or using computers. These skills transfer to many different careers.

Common seasonal jobs that build good skills include:

• Office support and data entry.
• Retail and customer service.
• Call centers.
• Warehouse work.
• Virtual assistant roles.

Many seasonal positions offer either predictable schedules (like standard retail shifts) or flexible arrangements (like remote customer service), which help balance work with medical appointments or health management needs.

Pay Attention To How You Feel

Seasonal work lets you see how a job affects your health without long-term commitment. This can let you notice how your body and mind respond each day.

A job might be a good fit if:

• It uses your strengths.
• You can work at your own pace.
• It doesn't make symptoms worse.
• You have energy left after work.

If the job leaves you exhausted, in pain or very stressed, these may be signs that such a role might not work out long-term.

Check Out The Workplace

The workplace environment matters as much as the job itself. Seasonal work lets you experience different workplaces without long-term commitment.

Look for:

• Supportive supervisors who explain things clearly.
• Respectful coworkers.
• Good training.
• Clear expectations.
• Willingness to make accommodations you need.

Consider how easy it is to ask for help, or physical aspects of the workplace like noise, lighting and physical layout. These are common indications of what kind of workplace you are in – and whether it works for you.

Learn – And Gain – From Each Experience

Take time to  assess what you learned when the seasonal job ends. Some questions to consider include:

• Did I enjoy the work?
• Did I enjoy my co-workers?
• Was my boss accommodating and easy to talk to?
• Did the environment feel right?
• What new skills did I gain?
• What didn't work for me?

Also, short-term jobs can help you build your network by meeting people who might become references or mentors. Supervisors, coworkers and HR staff might know about future job openings. Many seasonal employers notice strong work ethic, which could open doors to alternative positions beyond your short-term role.

Focus On What You Need To Succeed

Make sure to focus on your needs. Achieving more financial independence and stability is only part of the goal. Your wellbeing must be protected and maintained as well. If not, your ability to support a given job may not last.

When using seasonal work to help find a new career, here’s some things to consider:

• Your physical and mental health needs.
• Skills that transfer to other jobs.
• Your long-term career goals.
• Whether the job could become permanent.
• If the schedule fits your life.

Gaining Extra Support With Allsup Employment Services

Seasonal work doesn’t just have to be temporary employment. It can be a tool for building a better future that works for your unique situation.

If you are receiving SSDI and wish to return to work, you can use the SSA’s Ticket To Work Program to protect your benefits while transitioning back to employment.

Allsup Employment Services (AES) is an SSA-authorized EN for the TTW Program. We have over 10 years of experience helping thousands nationwide return to work successfully. We can help guide you through the SSDI work incentives on your journey to becoming a full-time employee.

The TTW Program helps you protect your SSA disability benefits, and working with AES you can:

• Earn More. Make as much income as you choose during the Trial Work Period and protect your full SSDI benefits.
• Stress Less. Avoid medical disability reviews and the worry that comes with them.
• Keep Medicare. While working, you can keep Medicare for over seven years.
• Avoid Risk. If you stop working anytime within five years, your SSDI benefits can resume through a reinstatement process.
• Pay Nothing. As a Social Security-authorized Employment Network, our services are provided at no cost.

Choosing AES means working with an EN who’s focused on your goals and will work with you every step of the way.

Get started with no cost and no obligation.

You can reach Allsup Employment Services today by calling 866-540-5105 or requesting a call.