After graduating from college with a diploma in horticulture, Meredith joined our Creative Employment Options program for help with her job search. She has anxiety, and is neurodivergent with diagnoses of autism and ADHD. Despite previously taking part in a horticulture co-op placement during school and related volunteer experience, she found she was facing barriers in finding employment.
Meredith worked with a Job Developer on a variety of job search strategies from online applications to cold calls to introduce herself, to following up after applying. She was open to re-locating anywhere in Ontario, hoping that being flexible on location would lead to a job offer.
When Meredith found that she was having trouble staying focused and remembering tasks discussed during Creative Employment Options program meetings, she was referred to our Solutions program for an ergonomic and assistive technology assessment.
Meredith reviewed the recommendations with her Job Developer, discussing how the tools and strategies could be used during the job search and once she was working. One suggestion she found helpful was creating a daily task list and using colour coding to prioritize tasks and then identify when tasks were completed.
Meredith spent quite a few sessions preparing for interviews including researching employers and conducting mock interviews. With the help of our Creative Employment Options team, she started getting interviews for gardening and landscaping jobs — always following up with the company afterwards and thanking them for their time — but had a hard time landing a job offer. While at times she felt discouraged, she persevered and always showed up for sessions with a smile and a positive attitude.
Eventually, Meredith landed an interview for a gardener position with a landscaping company in the Muskoka region, about two hours from her home. She did great, and received a job offer. She accepted the full-time position and visited the area to find accommodations for her and her support dog. Meredith felt proud that she was able to find the opportunity herself.
Now, Meredith says that her work is challenging, and that she enjoys it. Every Friday, she feels a real sense of accomplishment after a week of work, and she celebrates with an ice cream and a long walk with her dog.
