Cookerly PR’s Post

One of the cool passion projects that I got to do at Hire Heroes USA was employer training. As a non-veteran working at a military nonprofit, I found myself advocating for veterans and promoting their transferable skills and experiences to partners and nonveteran friends. We needed a sweet and simple training that could kickstart their personal learning and discovery. There’s so much content out there, and unfortunately, it's easier to remember stereotypes. LinkedIn is one of my corporate partners (Cory Boatwright). What I love about them is that they published the Veteran Opportunity Report based on data. They published a 2023 report which addresses some common misconceptions about veterans. I love it! The myth that still lingers around, and I want to put it to rest, is about turnover. The myth is that 50% of veterans leave their first civilian job within 6 months of employment. <Buzz>…That is incorrect! In the Veteran Opportunity Report 2023, “Veterans are 27% less likely to leave” compared to their nonveteran counterparts. Retention is a common issue among companies that approach us. Based on this, doesn’t it make sense to hire a veteran? #HireHeroesUSA #VeteranEmployment #VeteranCareers #MilitaryFamily #CareerTransition #HireVeterans

At a recent veteran related event, speaking to a veteran: Them: “So you are in recruiting for veterans and military spouses!? That is cool! What does your spouse do?” Me: “Yes, I love my team and we are passionate about helping the military community. My husband is a commander in the Air Force (and I go into more detail about the AMAZING base we are a part of)” Them: “So why do you even work?” Me (stunned): “Because I am the breadwinner and love my job” Them (more stunned): “Wow, well good for you.” Sadly, this is not a new experience for me as a military spouse. In the last few months alone, I have had similar conversations at least 4 times. It's no wonder that the military spouse unemployment rate remains at 20-22% and underemployment rates are closer to 60%. As a military spouse for almost 25 years, I have experienced both being told to be grateful for being paid $8 an hour despite being a 12+ year professional with an MBA and being asked why I even work. It's time we do better and actively work to remove the biases that surround the title "Military Spouse". One non-profit that is working hard in this space is Hiring Our Heroes. Join me on March 12th at their Military Spouse Hiring Event at Davis Monthan.   Let's continue to support organizations like this and work towards a more equitable future. #MilitarySpouse #HiringOurHeroes #Veterans #Equity https://lnkd.in/gD2bt2ud

One way to thank a veteran today? Hire them. On this Veterans Day we offer thanks and gratitude to the millions of military veterans and their families across the nation who have served and sacrificed for our individual liberties and collective freedom. And while it is natural and expected to appreciate their service in uniform, we should recognize they do even more for our country once they enter civilian life. Service men and women from all walks of life returned to our shores after World War II and helped fuel the economic boon that transformed our nation into a global super power. They went to school using the GI Bill, started businesses and fueled our nation’s innovative spirit. That same spirit of service and sacrifice can have a positive impact in your workplace, whether it’s a factory, an office or a retail outlet. We salute companies across the nation that have dedicated initiatives for hiring veterans such as Bank of America, Caterpillar Inc., and Duke Energy Corporation. However, we owe this community of patriots so much more. In October, the Department of Veterans Affairs reported that the agency supported nearly 48,000 homeless veterans with housing during fiscal year 2024. Many of our veterans suffer from substance abuse and mental illness because they don’t get the help and support they need. Veterans should never be cast aside once their service has ended. We should honor them by supporting their transition to civilian life and using the valuable skills they acquired in the military to strengthen our communities. Veterans seeking career opportunities can start with: ·        The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) through the U.S. Department of Labor; ·        The Forbes list of Best Employers for Veterans; ·        The Department of Veterans Affairs Careers and Employment page. Pass this along to veterans and families you know. And if you see a vet today, thank them for their service, and know that they have so much more to give. #VeteransDay2024 #VeteransDay #supportourtroops #purposeonpurpose #internalcommunications

Constant moves, deployments, and the everyday demands of the military lifestyle have resulted in high unemployment among military spouses and a significant wage gap. We can help you transform your volunteer experience into career skills with an effective resume. Blue Star Families has created a Resume Builder to help you get started. Additionally, the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network (MSCCN) provides employment readiness training programs and job placement solutions at no cost to all military-affiliated spouses and caregivers to combat wounded veterans. – VANC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by Veterans for Veterans and active duty service people and their families to help them navigate life during and after service. We serve as a one-stop resource center for all active-duty military, Veterans, and their families. 1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058 (760) 722-1277 https://www.vanc.me/ #VANC #VeteransSupport #MilitaryFamilies #OceansideCA #501c3Organization #VeteransHelpingVeterans #ServiceMembers #SupportOurTroops #NonProfit #MilitaryResources #VANCCommunity #LifeAfterService #VeteransAssistance #MilitarySupport #CommunityOutreach

This is the first Veterans Day in a long time that I get to spend with my favorite veteran instead of at work. I'm grateful to work for a company that recognizes this holiday and enables me to spend it with my husband, Andy, an Air Force veteran. Although Andy does not enjoy being publicly recognized for his military service, we were both happy to support our daughter at TMI Episcopal as the Corps of Cadets completed a Veterans Day Pass in Review, honoring the dedication, courage, and sacrifice of our veterans. In the midst of today's recognition ceremonies and events, if you feel inspired to move from appreciation to action, here are 3 ways you can offer support to those who served: 1️⃣ Become a mentor - Open your network and offer your time to help veterans understand your industry, company, or role, and how their skills translate to opportunities in your sector. 2️⃣ Hire a veteran - Proactively attract and include veterans in the hiring and interview process for positions at your company. Consider how you can incorporate skills-based hiring practices. 3️⃣ Donate your talent or treasure to a nonprofit that specializes in providing meaningful support to the veteran community. 👉 Join me in donating to Hire Heroes USA so that veterans like my husband, Andy, can get the personalized help they need to succeed in their post-military careers and become impactful leaders in their community. (See link in the comments!)

Who doesn't love the opportunity to build essential knowledge and skills to enhance your career journey? Who doesn't love good careers advice? Who doesn't love free courses? ✅️✅️✅️ for me! *Career Compass* is a 2-day workshop at the London Stock Exchange run by the Enterprise For Life® programme. The aims are to: ·      Understand advantages and disadvantages of working in the private, public and third sectors. ·      Compare and contrast; employment, self-employment and volunteering. ·      Establish or compliment your career management plan. ·      Better appreciate the mix of full-time, part-time, fixed-term and contract roles. ·     Boost confidence and prepare to achieve career goals. Whether you're just starting out or are well along in your career journey, understanding the intricate workings of the public, private, and charity sectors - and how they work together - is essential. This knowledge is particularly useful for service leavers transitioning to civilian careers, veterans and military spouses re-entering the workforce. Why not join me at the London Stock Exchange (first time for me) on 10th and 25th September and build your knowledge of the civilian employment world? Sign up at the link! https://lnkd.in/e7Wf2wND #EnterpriseForLife #CareerDevelopment #LondonStockExchange #Veterans #ProfessionalGrowth #ArmedForcesCommunity #militaryspouses #royalnavy #britisharmy #raf #forcesemploymentcharity #military #militarytransition #veteran Ren Kapur MBE Martin Wing Dougie Thomson It's great to see such strong support for the Armed Forces community in the City of London 😁

Cameron Hudson just posted this recommendation for me and the Military Transition Roundtable. So, I took it and repurposed it for encouraging future military professionals to attend our future classes. I'm enclosing this recommendation in our MILTrac post about our MTR programs below. Art G. García, PMP, Donald Current II, and Kelly Danchus, PMP can I ask that you share this post with those interested in working through a #mastermind process for their transition. https://lnkd.in/gA424Qmg

LinkedIn is an awesome platform! When Lee Paine was leaving the British Army and finding his feet on LinkedIn, I was actually against it and couldn't see the value in it...... However, If it wasn't for Lee opening my eyes to the power of this platform, the process of successfully leaving the British Army in 2020 would've been a lot more difficult If you're a service leaver, veteran or in the job market and not utilising LinkedIn to your advantage, step out of the shadows and get networking! LinkedIn has allowed me build a web of connections across multiple areas, with a strong focus on the rail industry and in the world of Health and Safety Network like a badger, trust me it works!! It is a bit daunting at first, I've just looked back through my profile, only a hand full of followers, posts with little to no engagement....it was tough at the beginning A MASSIVE thankyou to everyone in my network who has supported me over the past 5 years, I truly appreciate it!!! Onwards and upwards #Networking #positiveminds #railindustry #healthandsafety #serviceleavers #veterans #railwayfamily

🎈 National Non-Profit Day is tomorrow! Today, I want to spotlight some incredible organizations that I've had the privilege to work with and support. Here are a few non-profits making a real difference: 🤝 USO - Providing a safe haven at airports and military bases, their mission is truly inspiring. I'm proud to be part of their mentorship program, Veterati, helping spouses, veterans, and transitioning military members break into IT and Cybersecurity. 🐕 Dogs on Deployment - Volunteering with Alisa and her team has been a rewarding experience. From marketing campaigns to assisting military members with boarding their dogs during deployments, it's a cause close to my heart. ⬆ American Corporate Partners (ACP) - Offering career coaching and mentorship to spouses, military members, and veterans, ACP has been instrumental in helping me navigate my career journey in the US. 💻 Hiring Our Heroes - From training to resume help, they provide invaluable resources to veterans. Completing a Career Certificate through Coursera and Google for free has opened doors to future opportunities for me. 📑 ACT Now Education - Founded by Jai Salters, this organization offers free resources for military members and spouses, including programs to transition into IT. Best Military Resume has been a game-changer for me and I was introduced to it on one of the Saturday introductionary Zoom Calls from ACT Now! Sharing these resources because I know the challenges of transitioning out of the military. Let's support each other in finding success! ⭐ #NationalNonProfitDay #SupportOurTroops #MilitaryTransition #VeteranSupport #CareerDevelopment

US CHARITY SPOTLIGHT NextOp Veterans https://lnkd.in/e3GNi4Qy NextOp recruits, develops, and places high-performing enlisted leaders into industry careers. Their team of Employment Coordinators work one-on-one with veterans and transitioning service members to identify civilian professions that are right for them, translate their resume, prepare for interviews, and ultimately, start a new career. The Employment Coordinators are veterans themselves and have gone through the hurdles and struggles that come with transitioning from the military. NextOp also partners with employers across many industries, many of whom have a strong desire to recruit and retain veterans. They actively work with recruiters and corporate leadership to ensure that the translation of military skills to civilian experience is not a barrier for veterans when being considered for the workforce. They match work-ready individuals to employers that are passionate about hiring military members. #uscharity #nonprofit #charity #give #donate #volunteer #nextop #veterans #military