When Liz connected with our Prairie Regional Office, she was determined to find meaningful work. Liz has Autism and Developmental Coordination Disorder, and didn’t know what kinds of jobs she would be able to do — she was worried she wouldn’t be able to find employment.
She started in our Group Employment Skills program, where she could build up her confidence and develop a healthy routine of being somewhere every day at the same time. Liz started out shy and reserved, but week after week she became increasingly social until she was taking charge of most conversations.
Joining our Creative Employment Options program, she began working with a Job Developer, and she worked on shifting her mindset from worrying about her limitations to focusing on things she does well. Her Job Developer encouraged her to read as many job postings as possible to get a feel for all the options that are available, and through this process, Liz imagined herself in numerous different roles, many of which she never previously knew existed.
Liz and her Job Developer built a resume that highlighted her volunteer experience and showcased her skills — she didn’t realize she had so many skills that were transferable to different work settings. They discussed different job search strategies such as accessing the hidden job market and checking in with your connections for job opportunities. She also worked on enhancing her interview skills and performed numerous mock interviews, all of which continued to build her confidence.
Liz was determined to find employment, so she submitted numerous online applications, being creative during the application process to stand out among other candidates.
After several unsuccessful applications, Liz felt her confidence slipping. After one particularly difficult weekend, Liz decided to give it another shot, and applied to a national retail chain as an Order Filler.
She submitted her resume on a Monday morning and by early afternoon she was called in for an interview that evening. Liz had a great interview and was offered a full-time position on the spot — she began training later that week.
