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Meet Adriano
Adriano had been struggling in his career journey for as long as he could remember. He was never a strong student, and his previously been diagnosed with ADHD, a learning disability, and other mental health symptoms. He had no idea what interested him and was not that interested in work in general.
He had a history of work experiences that seemed random, and none of them lasted for very long before he was laid off or quit. He had stated college and quit several times due to lack of interest and low grades.
UNEMPLOYED–> FURNITURE DESIGNER
He felt lost, hopeless, and embarrassed. He wanted very much to be able to support himself and to have pride and passion in his work life. However, his lack of career direction combined with mental health symptoms made it feel like an impossible task.
He wanted work that was interesting, stimulating, and ever-changing—routine tasks were his worst nightmare. To stay engaged, he needed a job that offered variety and novelty. He disliked working at a desk, using computers, and sitting still for long periods. Instead, he craved a role that allowed him to be active, spend time outdoors, and interact with others throughout the day.
He also sought a well-paying job with an element of prestige, as he came from a high-achieving family with expectations for his financial success.
The Impact
Adriano began by completing Career Testing to explore his interests and potential career paths. The results revealed that he had a broad range of interests, making it challenging to focus on just one direction. However, the testing highlighted a clear hierarchy of his top three interests, helping narrow his options. Additionally, the assessment showed that Adriano was highly creative. When this insight was compared with his job history in clerical work and data entry—roles he found unengaging and difficult—it became evident why those jobs were not a good fit.
Following the Career Testing, Adriano partnered with a Career Coach to refine his career direction. When he decided to pursue furniture design, his coach provided guidance on securing a local apprenticeship and applying to colleges that offered programs in woodworking and design. Adriano has since earned a B.A. in Studio Art and completed multiple prestigious artist residencies!
Adriano’s biggest challenge was managing his ADHD symptoms, including procrastination, forgetfulness, disorganization, and difficulty focusing. The administrative tasks involved in reshaping his life were especially daunting. To stay on track, he relied heavily on regular accountability check-ins with his Career Coach, which motivated him and sustained his progress. His coach dedicated significant time to developing Adriano’s executive functioning skills, helping him build the independence needed to move forward confidently.
Adriano’s first step was completing Career Testing to establish a solid foundation for his Career Coaching journey. This step was crucial as he had little idea of what he wanted to pursue. From there, he collaborated with his Career Coach to explore various career options—a process that took time due to Adriano’s anxiety and indecisiveness. Eventually, he made a confident career decision and moved on to executing his action plan. After six months of dedicated effort, Adriano had a new life, with a stacked resume, LinkedIn, and engaging social media presence to match!
What Worked
Career Testing / Career Coaching (6 months) / Resume / LinkedIn