Employment & Career Support
Landing a job or getting into a school program can be challenging – especially if you’re navigating disability or gaps in experience.
Say How Consulting’s Employment Support is all about helping you shine. We focus on your strengths and equip you with the tools to reach your work and education goals.
How We Help You Succeed:
Not sure what you want to do? We start by exploring your interests, talents, and values. Through guided conversations (and maybe a skills inventory or two), we help you identify potential career paths or courses of study that excite you and fit your abilities. No dream is off-limits – we just might find a creative way to get there.
A well-crafted résumé and cover letter are your ticket in. We’ll work with you to create or polish your résumé, highlighting what you can bring to an employer. Don’t worry if you haven’t had a formal job before – we can showcase life experiences, volunteer work, or personal projects that demonstrate your qualities. Applying to college or a training program? We also help with applications and personal statements, ensuring your story and strengths come through.
Scouring job boards or school websites can be overwhelming. We guide you to disability-friendly employers, programs with good support services, and community resources like vocational rehabilitation. You’ll get tips on how to search smartly: leveraging networks, tapping into disability hiring initiatives, and using online platforms effectively. We’ll even discuss strategies around disclosing a disability (if, when, and how to do it in a positive, professional way).
Interviews can be stressful, but practice makes a big difference. We conduct mock interviews tailored to the kinds of jobs or programs you’re aiming for. You’ll get feedback on your answers, body language, and talking about any accommodations you might need. We cover common questions (and the tricky ones) so you walk in prepared and confident. We can also help you plan logistics – for example, requesting an ASL interpreter or checking a building’s accessibility ahead of time.
Once you land an opportunity, what’s next? We don’t abandon you at the job offer. We provide coaching on workplace skills: time management, communication with supervisors, handling stress or conflicts, and knowing your rights on the job. If you’re starting college, we coach you on self-advocacy with professors and managing your schedule. Think of it as an “onboarding buddy” for the real world.
When you’ve worked closely with us, we get to know your capabilities. With your permission, we’re happy to serve as a professional reference for you. Whether it’s a letter of recommendation for a scholarship or a reference call from a potential employer, we can speak to the skills and growth we’ve observed in our time working together. Our endorsement can help prospective employers or schools see beyond a résumé and understand your true potential.
Why It Works
Our approach is personalized and strengths-based. We know that traditional hiring or admissions processes don’t always capture how awesome and capable our clients are – especially if there have been barriers or breaks along the way. SHC helps bridge that gap:
- We translate: turning what might look like a resume gap into a story of resilience and skill-building, for example.
- We advocate (with you): sharing strategies to help employers appreciate an inclusive hire, or helping you highlight how your disability is part of your strength (problem-solving, empathy, etc.).
- We practice: because confidence comes from knowing what to expect and having a game plan.
- We stay ethical: we won’t write falsehoods or “magic up” opportunities, but we will empower you to present your best self and pursue opportunities you might not have thought possible.
A Quick Success Snapshot
Meet Jenna. She came to SHC as a recent college grad with autism, struggling to land a job despite a solid degree. Together, we revamped her resume to really showcase her coding projects and her keen attention to detail. We practiced interviews, including how to handle social questions and when to mention she’s on the spectrum.
After a few sessions, Jenna applied to a tech company known for inclusive hiring. Not only did she ace the interview, she felt comfortable enough to request a minor accommodation (a quiet workspace). She got the job! In her first month, we stayed in touch, coaching her through some workplace communications.
Jenna’s now confidently part of the workforce, and her supervisor feedback? She’s doing great – organized, punctual, and bringing fresh perspectives to the team. (We love those calls from happy employers!)
(Jenna’s story is illustrative; each journey is unique. Our role is to support and guide – you do the hard work and earn the success).