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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Courtesy Kentucky Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve
Kelli Carter is Kentucky’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve’s “job meister.” She has helped find numerous jobs for Kentucky’s returning Guard and Reserve personnel who have served active duty tours in the past few years. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Without a doubt, when it comes to placing returning Reservists or Guardsmen in jobs, Kelli Carter is the “job meister” for Kentucky’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) organization.
Carter is one of four fulltime personnel for ESGR in the Commonwealth, a Department of Defense operation that is staffed primarily with volunteers. “Kelli Carter is our expert in terms of placing our returning vets in job or better jobs,” said D. Allen Youngman, ESGR state chair. “She is our ‘go to” jobs person – from connections with companies across the state, to interacting directly with our Reservists and Guardsmen about jobs, and serving as our primary liaison with job-related organizations.”
Carter, a Kentuckian who graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Human Resources Management, has worked in job development functions for six years, first as a as a resources management analyst for the state and now for two years with ESGR. Carter measures her success, not just in numbers of job placements, but in the good that it has meant for individuals and families. “I want my job seekers to be set up for more than a job, but for long-term career success.”
Kelli Carter, who works with ESGR in Kentucky, helped Kentucky Army Guard Sgt. LuWanda Knuckles find her post as the Commonwealth’s new women veterans coordinator. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs)
Specifically, Carter works with the Kentucky Career Center, Department of Labor, KY-FAME Program, Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Community and Technical College system and with employers across the state. She also is a member of the Hiring Kentucky Heroes Workgroup.
Asked to name one example of her work, Carter says that’s difficult, but there is one that is being seen on billboards across the state. That hire she supported was of LuWanda Knuckles, a Kentucky Army National Guard soldier who was recently named as the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs’ new women veterans coordinator. The Kentucky Army National Guard is posting photos of her on billboards across the Commonwealth.
Says Knuckles, “I worked through the Hero2Hired Program with Kelli, but it really should be known as the “Hand-to-Hand Program,” because that’s the kind of help she provided throughout the entire hiring process. In my position with the Kentucky Army National Guard and with my employer, I can tell any Guardsman who is seeking a job about this wonderful program and the kind of exceptional person Kelli is.”
If you’re a Reservist or Guardsman, or know someone who is, who needs a job or a better job, contacting Carter is easy. Her office phone number is (502) 607-1302 and her email address is Kelli.F.Carter2@[email protected]. Remember, however, Carter may be ESGR’s “job meister” but she’s really more interested in being the “career meister!”
Hero2Hired (H2H.jobs) has transitioned its online capabilities to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Employment Center (VEC) (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs).
This transition supports the White House Joining Forces initiatives to combine Federal efforts to hire veterans under one web portal and strengthens interagency collaboration among the VA, Department of Defense and Department of Labor.
H2H Employment Coordinators will continue to provide quality career readiness assistance to Reserve Component Service members preparing for the next civilian career.
HERO TO HIRED (H2H) RESOURCES
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 [email protected] 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/
