Helping “Nina” Tailor Her Career Journey: A Success Story
Supporting non-traditional students often means addressing unique challenges while empowering them to achieve their goals. Recently, I worked with “Nina,” a student who made an appointment for a resume review. She was seeking employment through the Connect 700 program for job seekers with disabilities
Nina proudly shared a polished, AI-generated, two-page resume she intended to use for “any job.” While nicely formatted, it was very general, so we discussed the importance of tailoring resumes to specific roles. I suggested she use AI to refine her resume further—pasting specific job descriptions into the platform to create a 1-page version aligned to her experience and the role.
Another challenge arose during our conversation. Nina’s resume included detailed volunteer work that disclosed her disability. When I gently suggested ways to reframe this section, Nina initially hesitated, understandably wanting to honor her lived experience. To navigate this, I sought input from two trusted colleagues, who confirmed that a balanced approach—acknowledging her volunteer work without explicitly referencing her disability—would be the most appropriate strategy.
Just two days later, she stopped by to share exciting news: her updated resume had earned her three interviews! It’s these moments—when we see students take a chance and take our advice—that remind us why we do this work. I look forward to the day Nina returns with news of her new job, knowing I played a role in her success.
Written by board member Sheryl Saul
