Turning to Sacramento Works for help.

Sinead is a savvy self-advocate and self-described go-getter—“I’ve been like that all my life,” she attests—who has overcome developmental disabilities and bouts of anxiety on the path to employment.

So when she lost her job of six years at the onset of the pandemic, Sinead knew to turn to Sacramento Works for help finding a new position that was the right fit for her ambitions and skills.

“I was looking for a job and at first I wanted to give up because no one was biting,” she says. “I know I’m a good worker and I knew there was something out there, but sometimes I am not patient. But my job coach kept encouraging me.”

Thanks to support made possible through a Disability Employment Accelerator grant, Sinead was able to tap into integrated wraparound services that allowed her to expand her skill set and make her more employable. “They helped me a lot with job preparation. I got resume help, took a typing course, I learned how to answer the phones. I learned Word and Excel and I got help applying for jobs.”

Sinead honed her interview skills by participating in mock interviews so that she could present herself as a confident and capable applicant.

Sinead soon landed a position where her tenacity and hard work are valued. She doesn’t know where she would be without the support she received from Sacramento Works. “I probably would be in panic mode because I wouldn’t know where to go. I know that I need a support system, and that’s what they are for me.”

Sinead’s advice for other job seekers: “Don’t panic. Just breathe. SETA will help you with pretty much anything.” ●