Metrics & Outcome Data
Notable Metrics 2024-2025:
91% clients completed full Career Assessment
100% attended 2+ Career Coaching sessions
5 sessions attended per client on average
29% completed both coaching and testing services
18% with Limited English Proficiency
65% with disabilities (i.e., mental health diagnoses, neurodivergence, or physical / unspecified disabilities)
18% with justice histories
Impact Stories
David
“This was the most effective career counseling I've ever received”
Before Services
David was a 27-year old man, with a diagnosis of Bipolar I, who had been unemployed for over 1 year when he entered the WFWD program. He was living with a family member, but they were not financially able to support him beyond the basics of food/shelter.
David reported that he has never was able to secure a full-time position. He shuffled between various short-term roles (e.g., food delivery, receptionist, etc.), but often quit or was fired from these positions shortly after being hired. For the past year, he had spent his days “chilling out” in public places like parks or the library.
At the start of coaching, David presented with low self-efficacy and limited executive functioning skills. He was often late to sessions, didn’t know how to write a basic email, and became overwhelmed by even small tasks. His emotional state was dejected and insecure; he frequently expressed a fear of failure, saying things like, “I’m going to do something wrong,” or “I can’t do it by myself.” David lacked foundational job-readiness skills and did not appear ready to manage the high-pressure work environments he hoped to enter. He needed structure, encouragement, and support to begin rebuilding confidence from the ground up.
After Services:
After four months in the program, David secured a part-time job as a Starbucks barista, a position he pursued and obtained entirely on his own. While the role at Starbucks may not be his long-term goal, it provided structure, income, and a manageable re-entry point into the workforce. More importantly, David now has concrete experience navigating a hiring process successfully, something he once believed was beyond his capability. He left the WFWD program with stronger routines, increased self-confidence, and a clearer sense of what he’s capable of achieving when given the right tools and support.
David expressed genuine appreciation for the coaching process, noting that he “made significant progress with WFWD’s help.” His reflections speak to not only the outcomes of our work but the impact of feeling seen, supported, and encouraged at a time when he felt stuck.
*Identifying information has been changed to protect the privacy of participants
During Services:
David’s Career Coach used a strengths-based approach to help him recognize and build upon the skills he already had, many of which he didn’t initially see as valuable. His coach, Julia, stated, “my goal was to create space for small, achievable wins that could gradually counter his self-doubt and build his confidence.” By focusing on what David could do rather than what he felt he couldn’t, he was able to make incremental progress in executive functioning, motivation, and job-readiness.
His Career Coach started with foundational skills: writing emails, updating his resume, and completing applications together. As David grew more comfortable, he began taking greater ownership of his job search: tracking applications in a spreadsheet, following a self-made daily schedule, and meeting regularly with a writing tutor. Over time, he developed more consistency and began showing up to sessions on time. While minor setbacks still occurred, such as missing a job interview or losing his tutor, these became opportunities to reflect, adjust, and continue moving forward.
I am a client in the WFWD program. Since September, I have been working with my Career Coach and have made significant progress with her help. It has become a really important part of my routine…[our work helps me] to find hope and meaning in the future instead of analyzing the past.
Nia L.
“After 6 months of job searching and submitting over 100 applications…after working with WFWD, I got 3 interviews and one resulted in a job".”
Kim L.
“WFWD convinced me to take chances and apply for jobs I was interested in even if I felt ill-equipped.”
Ravi S.
“I am starting a new job…I am very thankful for the assistance through the WFWD.”
Moia W.
“I am reading Viktor Frankl's Man’s Search for Meaning, and the practices here at Wanderlust remind me of his logotherapy, where a counselor helps their client to find hope and meaning in the future instead of analyzing their past.”
Aaron J.
“I landed a new job that’s a perfect fit and felt supported every step of the way.”
Elvira M.
“I’m appreciative of how WFWD assisted me in making sense of the hardships I was dealing with…I was very clueless about what to do next helped me to see a road ahead that could still lead to a very satisfying career that fits my needs and interests.”
D’Arcy L.
Testimonials
“WFWD really made me feel better about myself, and my strengths. Talking to my coach felt like being in therapy and it was a very supportive experience.”
Juan P.
