I went on over thirty interviews before I was finally offered two different full-time positions. Having a degree in finance and two internships under my belt, I was given interviews at top-notch companies such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and many more highly regarded finance companies. It wasn’t until I read How to Win Friends and Influence People that I finally understood why I kept striking out at the plate.

Reading How to Win Friends taught me that it is most important to understand my prospective employer’s needs when going into an interview, and what every employer needs is a competent employee who can perform the duties of the vacant position. It wasn’t enough for me to just solve riddles and give textbook STAR responses to their behavioral questions. Given that most all roles have some physical component, even if that might be just typing on the computer or answering the phone, I realized it was important for me as an applicant with a physical disability to explain how I would perform those simple tasks. The rules pertaining to the hiring process established by the ADA give employers pause when it comes to asking questions directly related to disability, so I took the responsibility upon myself to be forthcoming with the information that would give my prospective employer confidence I could perform the duties of the role I was applying for. More than two years later I’m still employed with the same company, and I am thankful they have made an investment in my abilities and have given me a chance to contribute.