Accessible Career Transitions (ACT) and ACT to Employ support students with disabilities in finding and securing employment opportunities on campus and in the community that provide them with hands-on quality work experiences while they obtain their post-secondary degree at Carleton University.
We asked Jenna, from ACT to Employ, to answer a few questions about the services they offer.
Starting with the basics: what is ACT to Employ? How is it different from Coop and Work Study Positions?
ACT to Employ is a student employment service offered by Career Service’s Accessible Career Transitions program which provides career development, job search, and work term support to students with disabilities at Carleton.
ACT to Employ is similar to other student employment programs, such as co-op or work study, in that a student has the opportunity to apply to jobs that are of interest and/or in their area of study, that are paid, and that can help them develop or improve employability skills. For students who wish to learn more or who would like to book an intake appointment, they can visit our website at www.carleton.ca/act.
Why should I participate in the ACT to Employ program?
The ACT to Employ program provides students with disabilities with support, education, and resources around career development but also in areas such as workplace disclosure and accommodations.
The ACT to Employ program also works with on-campus and community partners to cultivate employment opportunities for our students while providing education, resources, and support to inclusive employers.
What if there aren’t any positions and/or employers within my field?
The ACT to Employ program strives to provide participants with a range of opportunities from different industries, however, if you are not finding the type of job or company you are interested in on the job board, you can let us know that you are interested in those areas and we can expand our employer outreach.
We are also able to support you in your own self-directed job search. Another point to consider is that while your dream job may not be on the job board, many jobs will give you the opportunity to develop employability skills, making you even more marketable to other employers in the future.
What other types of support does ACT to Employ offer for students with disabilities?
The ACT Student Counsellor, Jenna, is available to support ACT participants at any stage of the placement process, from the job search and application phase, interviews, through the work term, and post-work-term support. Our ACT Advisor, Nicole Borges, is available to support students with developing employability skills. ACT to Employ students and new grads have access to support and resources at any stage of their education and two terms (8-10 months) after graduation. Eligible students also receive access to the ACT to Employ Resource Hub on Brightspace and our Monthly and bi-monthly newsletters. While the Brightspace Hub contains resources for placement students, announcements about job and recruitment opportunities, and learning modules on key topics related to employment (e.g. Disclosure and Accommodation, Professionalism, Communication), our newsletters are designed to keep ACT participants informed about our current job postings, career fairs, and networking and recruitment events they may be interested in at Carleton and in the community.