Volunteer Spotlight: Phil

In our final volunteer spotlight this week, we’re honoring Phil Stitzinger, a volunteer who first approached Hire Heroes USA amid the COVID-19 pandemic last July, an unusual time of need for our clients. In the months since, he has proven to be an outstanding resource for our clients. As a member of the Coast Guard Reserves and as a Chief of Emergency Management in the Army Corps of Engineers, Phil has experience in transitioning to a federal job and offers a unique perspective to our clients. We recently asked Phil to share more about his experience volunteering with Hire Heroes USA.

Question: How did you learn about Hire Heroes USA and what made you want to volunteer?

Phil: “I learned about Hire Heroes USA while searching for meaningful volunteer opportunities in a social-distancing environment. Since the beginning of the pandemic, great strides have been made in terms of virtual work and networking, and I sought opportunities to mentor individuals using these increased capabilities.”

Question: What has been the most rewarding part of being a volunteer with Hire Heroes USA?

Phil: “The most rewarding part of serving as a Hire Heroes USA volunteer is learning that a client has completed a successful interview, and has been offered a meaningful career position. This occurred twice within my first few months as a volunteer, and I remain involved with Hire Heroes USA, always hoping for another success story.”

Question: How do you apply your own professional experience to your interactions with clients?

Phil: “Both civilian and military careers have provided much opportunity for growth, and over time I have had the opportunity to interview several candidates in both capacities: for federal career service and for military commissions. When interviewing clients, I may ask them to think about what types of questions they would ask if they were the interviewer, and how they would gauge various responses. I hope that this strategy helps clients develop their interviewing skills, by helping them think outside the box and provide well-founded answers.”

Question: Is there one particular client interaction that sticks with you?

Phil Stitzinger, Hire Heroes USA Volunteer

Phil: “One client had requested a mock interview on our third phone conversation, after a couple of calls to discuss the federal job application process, and to discuss thoughts on a couple of job leads. He may have been a little nervous about the mock interview because we never actually got to the questions. The phone call was more of a discussion on how to navigate through the interview, and what to expect. On our fourth phone call, we did run through a mock interview, and the client felt much more confident in his ability to interview. A couple of weeks later, the client called to let me know that he interviewed and was selected for a professional position with a Fortune 500 company. This news was absolutely thrilling!”

Question: How would you encourage others to support veterans and military spouses in finding professional success?

Phil: “Volunteering with Hire Heroes USA has been a remarkable experience. Volunteer time works around your schedule, at your location, to benefit veterans and their families all over the world. I highly recommend this organization to anyone interested in providing career search mentoring to our service members and their families.”

Over the past year, 1,469 active volunteers invested 7,207 hours to help military families build bright futures. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of veterans and military spouses too, please click here to learn more about volunteering with Hire Heroes USA.

Volunteer Spotlight: Donna

As one of our most selfless volunteers, Donna Magee has spent nearly 850 hours mentoring veterans and military spouses in the last five years. To put that another way, that’s more than 35 full days and more than 21 full workweeks talking with Hire Heroes USA clients since 2016. Considering Donna’s 40 years of experience as an HR manager and a member of a military family herself, she personifies the expertise and unwavering dedication that makes an ideal Hire Heroes USA advocate. To recognize her incredible commitment to our mission, we asked her about her experience working with our clients through the years.

Question: How did you learn about Hire Heroes USA and what made you want to volunteer?

Donna: “I learned about Hire Heroes USA through the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans’ Business Association. My husband is a Purple Heart Vietnam Veteran. Hearing first-hand about how he and his fellow Vietnam veterans were treated upon transition made me want to do something positive to help our current generation of veterans. You may also have heard how Vietnam veterans were disrespected, shunned, and advised to not include their military service on their resumes. Thankfully, today’s veterans are honored and receive great support during their transitions.”

Question: What keeps you involved with our organization?

Donna: “Each client has a unique story and is in their own stage in their job search journey. I enjoy helping with their questions and offering advice. Hearing their appreciation and passing it along to the team makes it worthwhile. And learning about a client’s new job really makes my day!”

Question: How do you apply your own professional experience to your interactions with clients?

Donna: “I retired after a career in Human Resources and was Senior Vice President of HR for a major corporation. I can offer my experience in business, IT, HR, recruiting, and coaching to provide practical solutions and guidance. I can also help our clients better understand the employer’s perspective. For example, some companies have a requirement to post every job, even though there is an internal candidate. That may be the reason external candidates are not contacted.”

Question: If you had to pick just one piece of advice, what’s the most important thing you share with the clients you work with?

Donna: “It’s hard to pick just one!

1: Looking for the right job is a full-time job. Get comfortable with LinkedIn, follow companies and groups you are interested in, grow your number of contacts.

2: Tailor your resume to each job posting, so that you successfully pass the automated screening software.

3: Only answer the phone if you can have a conversation. Otherwise, let it go to voicemail. Clear your voicemail regularly. A prospective employer will simply move on to the next candidate if he/she can’t leave a message. And a short, personalized Voicemail greeting with your name is best.”

Question: How would you encourage others to support veterans and military spouses in finding professional success?

Donna: “If you have experience in your industry/profession, please consider volunteering with HHUSA to provide career counselling, mentoring, or mock interviews. Our clients benefit greatly from the real-life advice and guidance our volunteers provide them. And the opportunity for them to receive real-time feedback on their interview skills is invaluable. It’s all done by phone, doesn’t take a lot of time, and we work around your availability.”

Volunteer Spotlight: Mark

As a Navy veteran, Mark Minutello experienced the uncertainty firsthand that comes with leaving the military for a civilian career. It’s one of the reasons he loves connecting with veterans and military spouses to share tips he learned on his journey into working in senior management at an insurance and IT conglomerate. Mark was gracious enough to answer several questions about volunteering with Hire Heroes USA.

Question: How did you learn about Hire Heroes USA and what made you want to volunteer?

Mark: “In the summer of 2019, the president of our company’s Veterans service group shared his very positive experience as a volunteer, which encouraged me to sign-up and proceed with the onboarding process. It is amazing how one voice can so highly motivate an audience to take action!”

Question: What has been the most rewarding part of being a volunteer with Hire Heroes USA?

Mark: “The most rewarding part as a volunteer is to see the confidence in a colleague (client) over the course of a mock interview, in that they know they have valuable skills to which they can tell their stories and absolutely be an immediate contributor to any company.”

Question: How do you apply your own professional experience to your interactions with clients?

Mark: “As an operations manager with a technology company, I attempt to apply my technical background in balance with my people leader experience, especially tailored to the needs of a colleague (client) during mock interviews. Even if a colleague is from a completely different background and would like to be hired at a company completely different than my company, I know there is common ground in shared values and in our DNA to have served our nation.”

Question: Is there one particular client interaction that sticks with you?

Hire Heroes USA Volunteer Mark Minutello and his family.

Mark: ”I had a mock interview late last year with a spouse of a military member, who was in the healthcare field. I was thankful to have met her and learned her story, and her motivations to apply to a local health care clinic. It really hit home for me that she is on the front lines of the pandemic response, placing herself in harm’s way in service to our nation.”

Question: What else would you like to share about your volunteer experience with Hire Heroes USA?

Mark: “It is very rewarding and humbling to give back to a community from where I came from, as it allows me to remember my roots in my first career after school in military service. This has shaped me to achieve success so far in my second career in the civilian workplace, not just by myself, but alongside and with support of other professionals, veterans, and family members.”

Volunteer Spotlight: Kandis

As a career coach and an employee at an in-demand company like Amazon, Kandis Webb has the knowledge and past experience necessary to assist any veteran or military spouse. A self-described “military brat,” Kandis also feels a deep connection and passion for helping Hire Heroes USA clients. As part of National Volunteer Week, we’re recognizing Kandis’s hard work and dedication to our mission.

Question: How do you apply your own professional experience to your interactions with clients?

Kandis: “I spent 12 years in the human capital management industry, [I] work as a career coach in my own small business, and I am also a full-time employee at Amazon. My life experiences have equipped me with the knowledge to help veterans understand how to authentically navigate job searching and interviewing in the civilian world. We might start a call with a nervous veteran, but we end it with a veteran who is confident and ready to rock their job search and interview!”

Question: What has been the most rewarding part of being a volunteer with Hire Heroes USA? What keeps you involved with our organization?

Kandis: “The most rewarding part of being a volunteer is ending my sessions with veterans saying, ‘This has been extremely helpful. I feel confident now’ Oftentimes, I receive updates that they got the job and THAT definitely inspires me to keep volunteering. Knowing that I’m helping someone through a major life transition energizes me. As a former military brat, I am proud to serve as a Hire Heroes USA volunteer because it is my way of telling our troops ‘thank you!’”

Question: If you had to pick just one piece of advice, what’s the most important thing you share with the clients you work with?

Kandis: “Most of the clients I’ve worked with can attest that I always tell them to be themselves and tell their truths. Do not try to look, sound, or be different. Be yourself!”

Question: How would you encourage others to support veterans and military spouses in finding professional success?

Kandis: “Reach out to veterans in your circle. Refer them to jobs at your company or connect them with someone who can help them with their professional goals. Also, if you know people who could serve as volunteers, let them know that this is a great place to serve. Most importantly, refer veterans to Hire Heroes USA.”

Question: What else would you like to share about your volunteer experience with Hire Heroes USA?

Kandis: “Volunteering at Hire Heroes USA gives me joy and a strong sense of connectedness. While I only invest about 4-6 hours a month, the return is helping dozens of veterans get jobs and secure their family’s future. There is no greater reward and I encourage anyone who is looking for a way to give back to inquire about becoming a volunteer.”

Volunteer Spotlight: Richard

In recognition of National Volunteer Week, Hire Heroes USA is honoring five members of our volunteer team. Today, we share Richard Westhoff’s story, which began when he signed up for free career assistance as a Hire Heroes USA client in 2015. Since then, he’s worked as a defense contractor and as an employee in the federal government. Richard now works as a senior intelligence officer in the office of the Secretary of Defense, but he took some time out of his busy schedule to share his thoughts about volunteering with Hire Heroes USA.

Question: How did you learn about Hire Heroes USA and what made you want to volunteer?

Richard: “I learned about Hire Heroes USA from another transitioning veteran in my pre-retirement transition course. At the time, I thought I already had a decent-looking resume but decided to give it a shot. After the professional resume refresh by Hire Heroes USA, I immediately started getting calls, interviews, and job offers. During a Hire Heroes USA veterans hiring event in my local area, I also received a free resume review and feedback from a Managing Director of a “Big 5” firm. That is when I knew I wanted to volunteer, be a part of Hire Heroes USA, and give back to other veterans.”

Question: How do you apply your own professional experience to your interactions with clients?

Richard: “I have had the benefit of what many would call a non-traditional career path. After serving 8 years of active duty, I left the military service and affiliated with the reserves a few years before 9/11. After transitioning from active duty the first time, with a short but successful career in the private sector, I came back on active duty and completed 24 years of service. Upon leaving the service the second time, with the help of Hire Heroes USA, I transitioned into a defense contractor position (going through a re-bid), then eventually landed federal civilian positions. So, whether on active duty, in the reserves, as a civilian, contractor, and now federal civilian, I have been able to apply my professional experience to a broad range of transitioning veterans.”

Question: If you had to pick just one piece of advice, what’s the most important thing you share with the clients you work with?

Richard: “It is really three things. Patience, preparation, and perseverance. Patience, since the hiring process can take time, and sometimes timing is everything. Preparation, since hiring managers and HR professionals can tell which clients have prepared their applications and have prepared for their interviews thoroughly and completely. Perseverance, because even with a wealth of patience and thorough preparation, it still takes persistence.”

Question: Is there one particular client interaction that sticks with you?

Hire Heroes USA Volunteer Richard Westhoff

Richard: “There have been more than a few clients who have come back with great stories to tell [in] interviews and salary negotiations. One client got back to me with the exact questions he was asked [in] his federal interview, and all of them were questions we discussed in the mock interview, almost verbatim.”

Question: What has been the most rewarding part of being a volunteer with Hire Heroes USA? What keeps you involved with our organization?

Richard: “The most rewarding part of being a volunteer is the experience talking to veterans in career counseling, mock interviews, salary negotiations, and veteran employment seminars, but especially talking with those with an interest in the federal government and defense sector. There is so much about the federal sector application process that is simply not taught in the military transition courses. I like to think that I can be a resource and contribute to demystifying the process for veterans in transition. Talking to a wide range of veterans with varying backgrounds and career fields is a rewarding experience. Being affiliated with the professionals at Hire Heroes USA keeps me involved and inspired to keep going.”

Top 5 Employment Partners of the Quarter

Hire Heroes USA is proud to announce our top five Employment Partners of the Quarter! This stellar lineup includes: Amazon, CACI, OSC Edge, Trident Systems and Experfy. Each partner is carefully reviewed and selected based on demonstrated commitment to recruiting and hiring veterans and military spouses.

These organizations have created full-cycle pathways to support veteran and military spouse talent acquisition from engaging in military communities to creating an inclusive retention strategy. In 2021, our top 5 Employment Partners have hired veterans and military spouses in Operations Management, Program Management, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering/Development and Intelligence with an average annual salary of $75,000. Hire Heroes USA is honored to establish connections between veterans and military spouses and our partnered organizations.

If you’d like to work with Hire Heroes USA to recruit qualified veterans and military spouses, contact our Employer Relations Team.

Celebrating a Milestone: 14th Annual 100 Holes for Our Heroes Fundraiser

14th Annual 100 Holes for Our Heroes Fundraiser

Celebrating a Milestone

Reflection by Allison Herbst, Director of Administration and Culture at Hire Heroes USA

Each July 4th for the last 14 years, Carl wakes up before dawn and begins golfing 100 holes to raise funds for Hire Heroes USA.

I first met Carl Meyer in 2007 at the annual MedAssets’ Healthcare Business Summit meeting in Las Vegas. The Healthcare Business Summit was an annual event hosted by the then CEO of MedAssets, John Bardis. At this particular meeting, Mr. Bardis announced to 5,000+ healthcare industry leaders present that the purpose behind his newly formed nonprofit, Hire Heroes USA, was his passion for giving veterans the opportunity to be the first in line for a civilian career upon returning from service. Mr. Bardis further expressed that due to the sacrifices veterans have made, our businesses thrived. We were called on by Mr. Bardis to do our part, that it was our duty, as corporate America’s decision-makers, to make this happen for our nation’s heroes – to help give them opportunities to secure the success they have earned.

Mr. Bardis’ passion for empowering veterans deeply aligns with Carl’s passion in this area. It sparked Carl’s idea to use his unique talents and combine his networking and sales skills with his love of golf – and the 100 Holes for Our Heroes fundraising was born that year. Each July 4th for the last 13 years, Carl wakes up before dawn and begins golfing 100 holes to raise funds for Hire Heroes USA. In his 10th year, Carl played 180 holes (10 rounds) and last year, to commemorate his 13th year, he played 113 holes.

As one of Hire Heroes USA’s first staff members, I’ve had the privilege of working with Carl from the onset of his event. I recall the excitement in Carl’s voice when he showed me the first event logo and postcard he created himself. The very first year, this event raised about $14,000 in support of Hire Heroes’ mission. His network of friends, co-workers, family members, business associates and other supporters responded to his event with positivity and generosity. They still do to this day. We both quickly realized that his event would become something special. Each year moving forward, Carl’s event would raise more funds, thus allowing Hire Heroes to assist hundreds of veterans, military members and their spouses into fulfilling careers. Here we are now, on year 14 of this special event and Carl’s determination and dedication have achieved the amazing accomplishment of raising over $1,000,000! If that is not a testament to what one man with a big heart and a mean passion for golf can accomplish, I do not know what is. I look forward to many more years seeing Carl’s event and passion thrive.

Click here to learn more about the 14th Annual 100 Holes for Our Heroes Fundraiser and support Carl’s efforts.

Hire Heroes USA and Jackson & Partners team up to empower veterans

“Veteran Strong” program will benefit our nation’s heroes

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (April 9, 2021) – Veteran nonprofit Hire Heroes USA has been named as a beneficiary of Jackson & Partners’ newly-launched “Veteran Strong” program. Jackson & Partners, an importer and processor of high-quality, sustainably-sourced food products, is partnering with suppliers, retailers and other food industry organizations to support the good work that U.S. military veterans contribute to their local communities.

“We are excited to launch this partnership and are grateful to the entire Jackson and Partners team. Collaborating on the Veteran Strong program means the veterans we serve at Hire Heroes USA will have greater access to opportunity,” said Andrew Sandoe, Hire Heroes USA CEO.

“We’re proud of our veterans and their service to our country,” commented Vincent “Bo” Jackson, the CEO of Jackson & Partners. “We’re honored to partner with some of the nation’s leading organizations in the food industry to support veterans and help them transition back into the workforce and the community.” As the Veteran Strong program rolls out throughout the country, Jackson & Partners will announce additional opportunities to recognize veterans that are making a positive impact in their local community. Look for the Veteran Strong promotion coming soon to a retailer and/or restaurant near you.

“Everyone at Jackson & Partners is excited about the launch of Veteran Strong and working with Hire Heroes USA to make a direct impact on the lives of Veterans; we are extremely proud of the work that Hire Heroes USA does in the community and looking forward to being a resource and advocate to such an incredible organization,” said Kristie Sams, Jackson & Partners COO and United States Army Veteran.

About Hire Heroes USA

Hire Heroes USA is a nonprofit organization that empowers US military members, veterans and spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce. We offer personalized one-on-one coaching, professionally revised resumes, mentoring, workshops, a job board, career fairs and more, to tens of thousands of job-seeking veterans and military spouses annually. Funded exclusively through public donations and private grants, we provide our services at no cost to clients. Since Hire Heroes USA’s founding, more than 52,000 Hire Heroes clients have found success in their job search.

All Hire Heroes services are being offered online or over the phone during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes our volunteer services, which allow professionals to mentor and guide clients during their job search. Hire Heroes USA prioritizes transparency, earning a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and the GuideStar Platinum Seal.

About Jackson & Partners

Jackson & Partners, LLC is an importer and processor of value-added innovative products across multiple categories globally. Positioned to provide customer solutions options unrivaled in value, the company is known for quality and reliability. As an MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) the company is mindful of the power of diversity for organizational success and constantly seeks improvement and innovation. The foodservice and branded products division partners only with the highest quality where trust, value, and service can be delivered. The company was founded by Bo Jackson, a champion all-star professional athlete in the two major sports of football and baseball, who brings his winning, team-based philosophy to both his branded and philanthropic endeavors. Learn more about Jackson & Partners on Facebook, Twitter and their website.

Top Jobs & Training Programs for April 2021

Every month, Hire Heroes USA selects several job openings from our job board to highlight. These job openings are posted by partnered employers who are looking to hire veteran and military spouse talent.

View jobs from our featured employer this month, Pinkerton. Also, be sure to check out several of our training partners by downloading the document below.

Click here to download the newsletter .

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