Leandra: From Project Search to Burger King

Who is Leandra?

Leandra is 23 years old and describes herself as relaxed and nice. When she isn’t at work, she attends Opportunity Works and also cooks and cleans at home. She enjoys sleeping, dancing, and listening to her favorite music.

What is Leandra’s Job?

Leandra works as a cook at Burger King. She enjoys cooking and will often cook meals at home, usually paninis, rice, and Dominican food, so she brought that skill to work.

Leandra plans to get her driver’s license soon, but now she gets to work and other places with the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MEVA)’s free bus service. She calls MEVA to let them know when and where she needs to go.

Leandra’s work schedule is different every week. Her manager lets her know which days and hours to work each week, and her shifts last for 3–4 hours. She knows how to make the different meals on the menu, and she is sometimes surprised to see customers coming in and spending money on a meal there every day.

Finding the Job

Leandra graduated from Lawrence High School in 2023 and participated in the Project Search program from September 2024 to May 2025. Project Search combines work experiences at job sites with classroom time learning workplace behaviors, or soft skills. "Project Search, they help kids with disabilities with the job, to be more independent, to use a bank account," Leandra explains.

Leandra’s work experiences during Project Search included working at a hospital, cleaning at the YMCA gym, taking care of dogs, and cleaning at Taco Bell. She enjoys cooking more than anything else and preferred a cooking job. She was glad to find a job as a cook at Burger King after Project Search. Leandra’s case manager from Opportunity Works supported her to apply for and learn the job.

Leandra’s Supports

Leandra learned her job by watching training videos showing the exact steps to prepare food and make specific items. Leandra’s service coordinator went with her on the first day to make sure she understood her job, and Leandra trained and worked there on her own the next day. When she first started the job, Leandra would prepare things part of the way and then have a coworker add the pickles, onions, and other toppings. Now, she can prepare the meals herself. Her service coordinator comes in sometimes to see how she is doing and gets a good report from her manager.

What does Leandra Think of the Job?

Leandra likes having a job where she can use her cooking skills. She also likes that she and other friends from Project Search are now working. She recommends that people come in and try the new Jalapeño Whopper. Her biggest challenge is to work quickly enough to keep up with everyone’s orders at busier times. Leandra’s future plans include getting her own apartment and her driver’s license and eventually becoming a nurse.

Leandra’s Advice to Job Seekers and Employers

Leandra wants employers to know that when service coordinators share resumes from students who have participated in programs like Project Search, they should understand that these students have completed a variety of work experiences and are ready for a job. Her advice to job seekers is to find programs like Opportunity Works where they can get help from service coordinators with finding jobs. She also encourages job seekers to participate in a work experience program because it can be done quickly and students can learn so much about working and being professional. "I graduated from Project Search on May 30, 2025, and they helped me get the job, so that’s why I’m working at Burger King."