Jillian Snyder
Jillian Snyder is a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor/ Senior Career Coach, where she supports individuals with disabilities and employment barriers in finding and maintaining meaningful work. With over a decade of experience in vocational counseling and workforce development, she partners with clients from diverse backgrounds, including individuals who are blind or deaf, youth with learning disabilities, people with developmental or physical disabilities, and those navigating substance use recovery, employment gaps, or prior justice involvement. Jillian is known for her compassionate, strengths-based approach and her unwavering belief that with the right plan and support, motivated individuals can achieve their goals. Prior to her current role, Jillian served as a Job Developer and Trainer with Non-Profits as a Placement Specialist with The Visually Impaired Advancement (formerly The National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality), where she assisted graduates in securing permanent employment aligned with their career aspirations. She also worked as an Employment Specialist with The Arc Erie County New York, further deepening her expertise in job placement, coaching, and employer engagement. Across each role, she has focused on identifying strong job matches, developing realistic career plans, and empowering clients to build long-term independence and stability. Jillian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine/Studio Arts from Buffalo State University and an Associate of Science in Fine/Studio Arts from Niagara County Community College. Although her career path began in the arts, she discovered her calling in helping others find clarity and direction in their professional lives and achieved a Master in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University at Buffalo. Organized, creative, and deeply committed to service, Jillian takes pride in guiding clients to define success on their own terms—often witnessing transformative milestones such as homeownership, career advancement, and renewed confidence years after their first meeting.
• CRC
• Buffalo State University
• Niagara County Community College
• University at buffalo
• National Society of Leadership and Success
• Camp Duffield
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say my success is most attributed to my positive attitude and the enthusiasm to keep trying. It's about not getting deterred by my path changing and just saying, okay, well, let's try this. I take something from every opportunity I've had, and I recognize that I'm growing and developing still. I'm in my thirties, but I feel like I'm still very youthful - I'm still learning things every single day. It's difficult for me to consider myself an adult because I feel like I'm still growing every single day. I approach every challenge as an opportunity for growth rather than letting setbacks stop me.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I share with people, which has become central to my own philosophy, is that there's no such thing as failure. There really is no such thing as failure, because you're gonna learn something and you're gonna take something away from every single opportunity. Even if it's something that doesn't work out or something you don't enjoy, you're going to take something away from that opportunity. You're going to grow in some sort of way, and that's going to help develop you. As long as you keep a positive attitude and as long as you see it as an opportunity for growth and development, there's literally no such thing as failure. This perspective has shaped how I approach my own career and how I help others navigate theirs.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would definitely tell them that there's no such thing as failure. You're going to receive growth and development out of every single opportunity that you face, regardless of if it's a long-term opportunity or a short-term opportunity. Approach every single opportunity as 'I'm going to grow and develop from this in some way, shape, or form.' Don't be afraid when your path changes or when things don't go as planned. Take something valuable from each experience and keep that enthusiasm to keep trying. The key is maintaining a positive attitude and seeing every challenge as a chance to learn and become better at what you do.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity in my field right now is advancing to senior-level roles, which my master's degree has helped me achieve. I've moved from entry-level positions to senior-level career coaching, working at a higher level than before. The highest level I could reach would probably be a senior-level career counselor for a state agency, which would involve more management and supervising other counselors. However, that presents a personal challenge for me because those roles focus on managing other counselors rather than working directly with clients. My passion is working with the people themselves - that's where I excel and where I'm most comfortable. I would be able to mentor and coach budding counselors and help develop really excellent coaches, but I know I would miss that fulfilling feeling of working directly with clients. So the challenge is balancing career advancement opportunities with staying true to what I love most about this work, which is being on the ground with the people who need support. I am open to any advancement opportunities the future may hold. I have been interested in remote Vocational Case Management opportunities where I could support clients all across the nation.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My values are most deeply rooted in honoring people's autonomy. It's extremely important to me to recognize someone's autonomy, empower their autonomy, and respect their autonomy. What I mean by that is when someone works with me, I want to give them the strength and motivation to pursue their dreams. I show them the realistic and achievable steps to get there, and I encourage them to not give up on themselves and to actually follow through with it. Helping people realize their potential and encouraging their autonomy is a very strong value for me. I believe in empowering people to make their own choices and supporting them in achieving what they truly want, not what others think they should want. My methodology is a blend of Strength-Based interventions and Person-Centered approaches to vocational counseling. It is important to me to take the time to get to know each client as an individual and develop plans that are realistic and achievable based on their individualized needs.