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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Staff report
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Career Center is offering Manufacturing Skills Standards Council training to individuals who have been unemployed 26 weeks or more, or a veteran. Individuals who attend this training develop high performance manufacturing skills through lectures, self-paced studies, computer-based simulation labs, “homework” presentations and individual/group activities.
Register online today by visiting training at: www.ckycareers.com <http://www.ckycareers.com/>
The center offers training in the following fields:
• Safety
• Manufacturing Process and Production
• Quality Practices & Measurements
• Maintenance Awareness
Space is limited, so you need to sign up before October 18th. Classes start October 28th at the Lexington Career Center. The best news is that this training is FREE of charge for those who qualify!
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Jim Stinnett is the Kentucky National Guard’s education, employment and incentives specialist. (Photo by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
FRANKFORT, Ky. – One of the great things about being in the Kentucky National Guard is that you can serve your nation in a military role and still be part of the local community. It also means that you can have a civilian career as well as military, which is the best of both worlds, right?
But what if you haven’t made up your mind as to what kind of civilian career you want? Worse yet, what if you don’t even have a job?
Not to fear! That’s what Jim Stinnett is here for!
CHECK OUT THE EDUCATION AND JOB LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE!
Stinnett is the education, incentive and employment specialist for the Kentucky National Guard. It’s his mission to – you guessed it – educate you and give you the incentive to become an employed and productive member of the community … and ultimately a better Soldier or Airman.
And guess what? He does this for Guard spouses, too!
“It’s my job to provide education and employment assistance to the service member and their spouse,” said Stinnett. “We do this by giving them access to employment training programs and online assets to help better themselves and their families. The bottom line is we provide assistance to help build opportunities for success.
Stinnett loves his job, mostly because he loves working with the troops. “The Guard is family and I’ve been a part of this family since 1983, first as an M-day Soldier and then a full-timer and now as a civilian contractor. One thing I’ve learned about life is that you do everything you can to help your family. So many of our military family need help finding that perfect job and I want to be part of that service support team that helps our brothers and sisters in uniform.”
The most common question Stinnett gets from the troops is “Where do I start?”
Many military skills, like the ones displayed here by the Soldiers of the 149th Vertical Construction Co. during a construction course at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center, easily convert to jobs in the private sector. For those jobs that aren’t easily translated into civilian language, a solution can be found. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“I can work with the soldier or family member to create a career action plan and an employment status review worksheet,” Stinnett said. “This will help determine a career path and what they need to do to obtain that ‘dream job’.”
“You have to make a goal or create a career action plan. You can’t be an underwater basket weaver if you don’t have the right knowledge. So you have to set smart goals.”
Stinnett explains that when you’re goal setting you should keep the following items in mind:
Make connections “Good relationships are important. Accepting help and support from others strengthens resiliency.”
Move towards realistic goals “What’s one thing I can accomplish today that helps me move in the direction I want to go?”
Accept change as a part of living “Accepting circumstances that cannot be changed can help you focus on circumstances that you can control.”
The biggest mistake Stinnett sees applicants make is using too much military jargon in their resume.
“Probably the number one reason employers don’t hire veterans is that they can’t interpret the military lingo,” said Stinnett. “There are ways to translate military occupational skills into language that is more civilian friendly, and we can help you with that.”
And finally, Stinnet says the most important thing a Guard member can do to find the right job is to create a career portfolio.
“This should have your DD214, performance appraisals, job descriptions, old resumes and any previous job applications,” said Stinnett. “Don’t be shy. Take note of your accomplishments and achievements in the past as they are key to becoming the best qualified person for the job you’re applying for.”
So there you have it. If you’re unemployed or underemployed, don’t give up. Where there is a will there is a way. And then there’s people like Jim Stinnett.
For more information on how to find your dream job email Stinnett at james.b.stinnett.ctr@mail.mil or call him at 502-607-1941.
HELPFUL LINKS TO HELP YOU IMPROVE YOUR EDUCATION AND GET A BETTER JOB!
GoArmyEd is the virtual gateway for all eligible Active Duty, National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers to request Tuition Assistance (TA) online, anytime, anywhere for classroom and distance learning www.goarmyed.com
Hero2Hired (H2H) was created to help Reserve Component service members to connect to and find jobs with military-friendly companies. https://h2h.jobs
O*NET OnLine can help you translate your military occupational skills and experience into job descriptions for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more! www.onetonline.org
Hire A Hero is an online job board and employment resources center with more than 337,000 registered members and candidate profiles and in excess of 2 Million unique visitors. www.hireahero.org
VA for Vets facilitates the reintegration, retention and hiring of Veteran employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs. http://vaforvets.va.gov/
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
FRANKFORT, Ky. — If we’ve learned anything in today’s US military environment it’s that communications is the key to mission success. The new buzz word for 21st century operations, “jointness,” requires it; ground troops talk to aviation assets, blue talks to green, squads take direction from headquarters — and the list goes on.
The same goes for looking for a job in “the real world.” You’re out there on your own, either unemployed or underemployed, and you need top cover and you need it now. Just as you’d use any number of technologies and practices on the battlefield to call in air support, you’ve got to communicate with potential employers and let them know you’re available. Not only that, but you have to let them know that you have the right skill set and attitude and that you’re the right person for the job.
And how to do you do that, you might ask? You network, that’s how.
“Network, network, network,” says Tammie Hollar, Employment Transition Coordinator with Kentucky Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. “That’s the key to finding the right job. Half of all retained hires are via networking, so you can see why we push it. It’s what works in our world today.”
Hollar counsels Guard members routinely on how to find employment and she loves what she does. And one of her favorite things to talk about is networking. She considers it one of the three legs on the tripod of “job readiness,” along with a good resume and the ability to deliver at an interview.
Good networking tactics can help you find your way through to employment and a satisfying career. (Photo by Sgt. David Bolton, Public Affairs Specialist, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky Army National Guard)
“Networking is making connections with others,” said Hollar. “You can network by posting your availability to LinkedIn, contact others in your field via phone, text or email and get out into your community, volunteer.”
Just uploading a general resume to websites doesn’t cut it anymore to find a great job or career; instead, probably the most effective way to network is start by going online. Sites such as LinkedIn and Hero 2 to Hired (also known as “H2H”) are the new normal.
Hollar’s advice on networking? “Own it and take responsibility for your future. Utilize the resources that are available to be successful in your search. Connect with people in the area you would like to be employed in.”
Keep in mind that all the advice in the world isn’t any good without hard work on the part of the job-seeker.
“This process is for someone who’s made looking for a job their job,” said Hollar. “We’re here to help people who are interested in being employed, especially those who’ve been interested for a while.
“Do not depend on someone else to find you a job. That belongs to you,” said Hollar. “You have to have it in your heart, and you usually get out of it what you put into it.”
One of the misconceptions about working with agencies like ESGR is that they’re going to hand you a job. That’s not exactly true.
“There’s a myth that we’re a staffing agency,” said Hollar. “We don’t find you jobs — we help you prepare to be employed.”
Good advice from someone who knows.
For more information on Kentucky’s Employment of Guard and Reserve and how they can help you email philip.k.miller.ctr@mail.mil or timothy.e.stinnett2.ctr@mail.mil or call 502-607-1532 or 502-607-6055.
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Employment Transition Coordinator Tammie Hollar (left) speaks to an employer and Soldiers at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Frankfort, Ky., Oct. 1, 2012. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — It’s been said that getting a job is lot like dating. (If you’re already married, think back to when you weren’t.) You don’t want to go out with just anybody, right? You know what you want in terms of lifestyle and compatibility, and you’ve got standards. Or at least you think you do. So you look around, see what’s available, and you think about what you want out of “that perfect relationship.” Eventually you find the right person — you hope — and you know you’ll have a great time if you can only get him or her to notice you.
And therein lies the problem. Getting noticed and scoring a date with that special someone.
There’s no arguing that military life gives Guard members training and experience that can be used in civilian employment. After all, that’s one of the great things about joining the Guard. But translating those traits into a relevant job-related language and building a proper resume is all too often the biggest stumbling block to getting a date, er, um … job with the right employer.
That’s where Tammie Hollar comes in.
Hollar is the employment transition coordinator with Kentucky Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. One of her jobs is helping service members find their voice, get their training and experience down on paper — or online — and help them on the road to a successful and happy career.
It’s a mission she is very passionate about.
“I’m a big believer in the employability of our Guard members,” said Hollar. “It’s just a matter of getting the attention of the right employer and matching up skill sets and culture fits, and selling them on who you are and what skills you have.”
Hollar has nearly 20 years experience in human resources, recruiting, managing and supporting diversity initiatives in corporate settings and working with community agencies that support people with disabilities and veterans.
In short, she’s “been there, done that.”
Tammie Hollar (center) speaks with a civilian contractor at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Frankfort, Ky., Oct. 1, 2012. (Kentucky National Guard photo by Sgt. Scott Raymond)
One of the most crucial things that Hollar pushes is proper resume building. Sometimes job seekers have a tough time understanding the resume building process. Hollar is determined to get help overcome the wording.
“The people I work with usually have the skeleton idea or outline on what they want to say,” she said. “But they’re not always sure on the latest resume trends and job search techniques. That’s where I can help them.”
Hollar explained that because we are now in an age of automation and electronic search engines — think Google — companies use these same kinds of systems to screen applicants.
“If your resume doesn’t have the right key words, it may not even make it to an actual person,” she warned. “You have to know the right words and phrases to put in your resume. Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance in translating your skills to fit the workplace.”
Your resume is your branding, Hollar contends, so you have to personalize it with your abilities and training.
“It’s always surprising to me how many people act modest when it comes to listing their capabilities. Remember, you’re not bragging — you’re looking for a job and they need to know what skill set you bring to the table.”
One other thing she suggests is personalize the resume to the targeted employer.
“That can make a huge difference. It shows them that you’ve done your homework, that you’ve taken the time to learn what they’re all about and that you are eager to be part of their team. Think of it as flattery.”
And a little bit of flattery — whether you’re looking for a job or a date — goes a long way.
To find out more about Kentucky ESGR and getting on with your career contact Hollar at Tammie.Hollar.ctr@ng.army.mil or message her through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KYESGR
What do you think of this article? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook.
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
OPEN THE DOOR TO SUCCESS by taking advantage of the education and employment opportunities made available to you through the National Guard (File photo)
FRANKFORT, Ky. – One of the great things about being in the military, aside from wearing cool uniforms and getting trained to do things that most other people cannot even imagine, is the range of benefits that “Uncle Sugar” makes available to the troops. Among the most valuable of all those benefits available are the ones that provide education and employment opportunities.
Lt. Col. Allen Boone and his Education, Incentives and Employment team are committed to making sure that all of Kentucky’s Citizen Soldiers and Families get access to the full spectrum of the available benefits and services .
“The opportunity to increase the level of support to our Soldiers and their families is our utmost goal,” said Boone. “Our mission is to daily become more effect and efficient in our job so to provide the highest level of quality support for education as well as employment. This includes incentives for student loan repayment and bonuses for our Guard members.”
Boone’s team wants to inspire not just the Soldiers, but Family members as well to achieve a higher level of success than they’ve ever had before.
“We want them to take advantage of the huge amount of educational benefits that are available to them,” he said.
Ltc. Allen Boone and Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Peele have a passion for helping Soldiers jump start their careers through education, employment and incentives offered by the National Guard. (Photo by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
Boone and his team are working hard to market their services and get the word out on the opportunities available to Guard members and their Families. Websites and social media tools such as Facebook have now become part of that process.
Some of the most attractive features about signing on with the Kentucky National Guard are the enlistment incentives and education benefits.
“The maximum enlistment incentive is $15,000,” said Sgt. Matthew Boone, state incentives manager. “The average bonus awarded is around $2,500, depending on where a recruit goes, the need for that particular job skill, available slots, unit strength and other factors.”
Current members of the Guard can also receive extension bonuses of up to $10,000 depending on their eligibility.
Education incentives include the Montgomery GI Bill, federal tuition assistance, state tuition assistance and the aptly named “kicker.”
But what if you’ve already graduated from college? Don’t worry about it – the National Guard has something to offer you, too, in the form of college loan repayment programs.
“We spend a lot of time on loan repayments,” said Sgt. Boone. “With the increase of this program to $50,000, that is very popular right now.”
Sgt. Matt Boone and Capt. Melissa Mattingly discuss incentives available to Kentucky National Guard Soldiers. (Photo by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
Preparing troops for civilian employment is the other side of the coin. Without jobs part-time troops can become distracted and unhappy, and they may even decide to leave the service. Stable, productive employment builds a strong, resilient force of motivated Soldiers capable of deploying overseas in time of war or here at home during natural disasters and emergencies.
“Education and employment go hand in glove,” said Lt. Col. Boone. “We work very closely with Kentucky Employer Support of Guard and Reserve in putting out job announcements and training seminars. We want to do everything possible to increase the marketability of our troops in this challenging economy.”
But it’s not just the individual Soldier that the Guard can help; another program Boone’s team runs is Education After High School, which targets the children of Guard members.
“This program helps Guard youth identify the opportunities that are available to them after high school,” he said. “Whether it’s a two or four year college, vocational or trade school or apprenticeship programs that lead to full-time employment, we can help them find their direction.”
There are requirements that must be met, of course. Troops applying for state tuition assistance must meet all physical fitness and height/weight standards and they must not be flagged. Applicants for the Montgomery GI Bill also have their rules. But not to worry – the Education Office can help guide you through the process to make sure you know what’s expected.
“With the benefits we now have there is no financial reason for our people not to get their college degree and advance their civilian career and pursue a great military career,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Peel, Education Incentives and Employment NCOIC. “I come from a customer service background and I love helping people figure out what they need and connecting them with the right resources.
“I’ve seen our Soldiers give so much every day and this is a chance for us to give back to them.”
For more information on Kentucky National Guard education benefits and incentives call 502-607-1307 or email ky-kg-dcsper-ed@ng.army.mil
Also, visit the following links:
Federal Tuition Assistance
State Tuition Assistance:
ARNG Education Web Site
Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges
Story by Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht, Director of Public Affairs, Kentucky National Guard
Photos by Maj. David Page, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES OF THE OPEN HOUSE
Capt. Noy E. Boriboune speaks to Soldiers interested in the Kentucky National Guard Officer Candidate and Warrant Officer Candidate Schools about her experience while attending the Kentucky National Guard OCS programs.
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky National Guard hosted an informational open house for more than 50 Soldiers interested in Officer and Warrant Officer Candidate School in Frankfort and Greenville, Ky, 7-9 January.
“Being an officer in the Kentucky Guard can be one of the most-rewarding opportunities of your lifetime,” Maj. Gen. Edward Tonini, adjutant general of Kentucky, told the audience in Frankfort. “These programs offered to you, our Guardsmen, are world-class training.”
Warrant Officer Candidate School and Officer Candidate Schools challenge the Soldiers during the long intense leadership training.
State Chief Warrant Officer James W. Simms talks to Soldiers interested in Warrant Officer Candidate School about the requirements and challenges of the program.
Currently, there are three options for attending OCS: traditional; National Guard Bureau Accelerated OCS; and Federal OCS.
Most Kentucky Guard Soldiers opt for the traditional option, which requires Soldiers to attend OCS in lieu of their normal drill periods for approximately 16-18 months, to include the two week annual training period.
WOCS also offers federal and state options that hone physical and mental endurance.
For more information, click on the links below for more information regarding OCS and WOCS.
