At FPU Career Development Center, we understand the added attention to coursework and other commitments students with disabilities encounter. With all this, it can be difficult to actively engage in career development. However, it’s important to make the time to seek out experiences in college that will help you identify your career interests and gain the skills needed to obtain employment upon graduation—if not before. Our career services team can help you start with your strengths, so you can communicate your value to employers.
FPU's Disability Access and Education Office
Further Information
Career Assessment & Exploration
Assessments
The Career Development Center offers assessments covering career interests, personality style, values and skills. These assessments are tools in self-discovery and will help you develop a profile of your interests and abilities.
- – Answer questions about the type of work you enjoy and My Next Move will suggest careers that match your interests and training.
- – Tell Career One Stop what you like and don’t like to do. They’ll show you careers that fit your interests.
Career Exploration
Discussing the results of any assessment with a trained career counselor is important, as he or she can help you make sense of your results and guide you in making a deliberate and thoughtful career development plan.
- – Learn details about different careers, and what's ahead for your career as well.
- – An article discussing top choice careers for people with physical disabilities.
- – An article discussing mental health concerns as a workplace disability.
- – Find career information on duties, education and training, pay and outlook for hundreds of occupations.
- – An article that discusses home-based jobs for people with disabilities.
- CDELC Career Exploration & Planning Page – Use the information and resources on this page to get the most out of your career exploration experience. When you have finished exploring, map out your career plan before making a move.
Resume Writing for Students with Disabilities
Three Easy Steps to Craft Your Resume
- Look at the job description of the position for which you are applying. Highlight areas in the job description for which you have experience, skills, knowledge and abilities.
- Use the highlighted language to craft your resume using this template, using the job description section to help you complete the profile section.
- Schedule an appointment to have your resume critiqued by Career Development Center staff.
Resources
- Resume Guide – Describes how to create a resume and provides an example.
- Resumes & Cover Letters – Learn about the components of writing a winning resume and getting it noticed. Also learn what you should say in a cover letter.
- – Provides a sample resume walk-through.
- – Federal resume guide and what you should know when applying for a federal career
Interviewing for Students with Disabilities
Successful interviews don’t just happen. Learn interviewing skills by scheduling a practice interview with a career counselor or use our subscription to to learn and practice your interviewing responses.
Other Resources
- – Prepare for interviews by knowing how to handle questions related to your disability.
- Interview Preparation-FPU Career Development Center – Learn good interviewing skills and become fully prepared to help you make a winning impression and get the job you want.
Internships for Students with Disabilities
The internet can be a very useful tool in locating internships, but it is not the sole answer to your internship search. In addition to checking out the following links, stop by the CDELC to make sure your internships search is on the right track.
- – Places eligible students and recent grads who self-identify with any type of disability in summer internships within Congressional offices and federal agencies, as well as non-profit and for-profit organizations in the Washington, DC, area.
- FPU Career Development Job Search Strategies – Learn about the four best job search strategies that work.
- FPU Career Development Internship Information – Use the listings on this page to search for internships if your department/program does not require and/or coordinate internships.
- – A paid internship program at the Smithsonian for young adults with disabilities tailored to interns’ areas of interest.
- – Identifies and recruits students with apparent and non-apparent disabilities studying in science, engineering, mathematics, computer science and some fields of business for internship and co-op opportunities.
- – A project to increase disability inclusion in U.S. foreign affairs by supporting future generations of Americans to invest their skills and talents in this field.
Employment for Students with Disabilities
The internet can be a very useful tool in locating employment opportunities, but it is not the sole answer to your job search. In addition to checking out the following links, stop by the CDELC to make sure your job search strategy is on the right track.
- FPU Career Development Center Job Search Strategies – Learn about the four best job search strategies that work.
- – A job opportunity website for people with disabilities.
- – The largest employment website for job seekers with disabilities.
- – Helps find the perfect match between dedicated workers and employers looking to build a strong workforce and provides résumé and career advice.
- – Job listing site for people with disabilities.
- – Post your resume and look through job listings for people with disabilities.
- – A job board for people with disabilities.
- – Provides resources for individuals with disabilities to assist in developing their business.
- – Job listing website that links job seekers with disabilities to employers looking to hire.
- – Lists employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
- – Article discussing tips to find the best jobs for people with disabilities.
- – Job listings for people who are visually impaired or blind.
- – A disability-owned and operated business dedicated to building employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Disclosure & Other Helpful Resources
- — Addresses questions about how the ADA protects applicants with disabilities during the application process and beyond.
- FPU's Disability Access and Education Office — Serves as the liaison between faculty and students in the coordination of academic accommodations and services, provides students with information regarding their rights and procedures and helps the whole campus reach a better understanding of the needs of a variety of students.