As it does for many college students and recent graduates with disabilities, participation in the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) resulted in valuable work experience for Czarina Munoz, who in 2021 spent three months interning with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Human Resource Branch in Dallas, Texas.
While at FDIC, Czarina’s responsibilities included using the agency’s electronic HR information system, assisting in federal recruitment and staffing processes, completing reports, and reviewing files for structure and compliance. But the process of obtaining the internship was just as valuable as the actual job, Czarina says. That’s because she had the opportunity to meet employees from multiple federal agencies and thus gain insight into the diversity of federal-sector jobs.
“You get to talk to real-world professionals who work in specified careers,” she says. “Recruiters give helpful insight on different skills and other career options you might find of interest. Working with the WRP has definitely given me insight on a different career path.” In fact, Czarina now plans to obtain her master’s degree and pursue a long-term career in public administration.
Czarina first applied to the WRP based on guidance from her counselor at the Office of Disability Access at the University of North Texas, where she majored in Nonprofit Leadership Studies, minored in Journalism, and earned a certificate in Latino/a Mexican-American Studies. Although she didn’t receive many WRP inquiries right after her graduation in May 2020, she kept her account up to date and continued to build her skills. Then, in spring 2021 she received an email regarding the FDIC position. She applied, and the rest, as they say, is history.
While completing her internship, Czarina’s managers and co-workers played a big role in helping her feel welcome and benefit from the experience as much as possible. This included providing a few accommodations that allowed her to get the most out of her internship experience.