This edition of the REACH Toolbox continues 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.
The remainder of this article details the professional documents (cover letters, resumes, references, and thank-you notes) that generally accompany job applications. Please click on the following links to view more detailed information about each document.