When planning one’s future, having a helpful hand providing guidance is a worthwhile connection. Kent State’s Veteran Career Initiative (VCI) provides student and graduate veterans with valuable business and personal connections that help with translating military experience into a civilian resume.
VCI, a partnership between the Center for Adult and Veteran Services (CAVS) and Career Exploration and Development, pairs veterans who have graduated in the past three to fifteen years with current student veterans. The program aims to help student veterans plan for their careers, translate service skills to civilian competencies and gain mentorship from Kent State veterans.
Kent State is an institution that's very connected to the military population. The program came about through a donation from Bob and Ann Woolf, said Joshua Rider, executive director of the CAVS.
“They’re both alumni and Bob is a veteran, "Rider said. "They wanted to create something that would increase the career readiness skills of the student veterans and service members at Kent State.”
VCI has 14 enrolled students who were paired with mentors at a networking session on Jan. 21, 2022.
A large number of veterans, as well as those on military benefits, are supported by Kent State. The unique experience that every military student and mentor has is important because they’re able to link shared military experiences to civilian life. Transitioning from one to the other can be a challenge for many, so these commonalities help everyone involved.
“We encourage monthly connections while they're a part of the program,” Executive Director of Career Exploration and Development Kristin Williams said. “Every single one of our students has reported that they continue those connections with their mentor after the program has ended.”
This pairing program also allows mentors and mentees to create new opportunities. One mentor who joined the program from Colorado helped a student relocate to Colorado Springs after graduation.
“It wasn't a ‘come and work for my company’ sort of thing, but it was more of a 'you're in the region, how can I help you connect?’” Williams said.
The CAVS are seeking recent graduates who are veterans and willing to serve as mentors. Students were paired with mentors at a networking session on Jan. 21, 2022, from 2-4 p.m. at the Design Innovation Hub.
For more information, visit www.kent.edu/cavs/vci or email Kristin Williams at kwill100@kent.edu, or Joshua Rider at jrider@kent.edu.