Career Directors

This edition of the REACH Toolbox begins a series of articles that detail the services that are offered by the REACH Program and University Career Services to help students with disabilities achieve their career goals. Although most of these services may appear to be more general in nature, it is important to remember that all students, regardless of the presence or absence of disabilities, have exciting opportunities to explore their career interests, apply for jobs, prepare for interviews, and engage in their chosen fields of employment. Therefore, REACH and University Career Services endeavors to provide the following services to assist students for each of these phases:

Take assessments to identify potential careers based on personality preferences and interests.
Partner with Career Directors in respective colleges to learn about industry-specific internship/employment opportunities.
Create a Handshake (BYU’s platform connecting students to employers) to receive opportunities tailored to specific interests and skills.
Prepare for Career and STEM Fairs.
Prepare application materials (e.g., cover letters, resumes, references, thank-you notes).

Prepare for job interviews.
Determine if and when disability disclosure to employers is appropriate.
Learn strategies to request accommodations.

What are Career Directors?

Each college on campus has a Career Director assigned to it. Career Directors have connections to employers and knowledge about employment opportunities in the industries that are connected to the respective majors or fields of study within those colleges. The REACH Manager, Tyler Briggs, is also a Career Director who works with students with disabilities across all of the colleges on campus. His expertise is helping students with disabilities navigate the processes of preparing for employment, deciding on the right time to disclose disabilities to employers, and requesting reasonable accommodations. He is also building professional relationships with employers that have initiatives or specific interests in hiring candidates with disabilities, and he is working to engage them with students with disabilities. Although certain companies have such hiring initiatives, most companies are required by law to interview and hire the most qualified candidates, regardless of the presence or absence of disability. Therefore, you do not need to limit yourself to working only for select companies. If you have made a decision to pursue employment in an industry that aligns with your major, you may consider asking the REACH Manager to help you coordinate a joint appointment with him and your college-specific Career Director. In such an appointment, you would have opportunities to discuss your specific employment goals and how they may relate to the feasibility of performing the essential functions of a job or the accommodations that you may need.

Who is Your College-specific Career Director?

Although most Career Directors are housed within University Career Services (2590 WSC), there are a few that are located directly in their respective colleges (indicated by the office locations next to their names). With the exception of the Marriott School, appointments can be made with Career Directors by calling (801) 422-3000.