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Marissa's Story

From Connection to Confidence

One of the most daunting challenges Veterans face when leaving the military is understanding, and explaining to employers, how their experience in service translates to the civilian workforce. As U.S. Navy Veteran Marissa found, working one-on-one with someone who’s been in your shoes is one of the best ways to gain confidence in your own value.

Marissa, an Electrician’s Mate who served for eight years aboard ship and as a recruiter, wanted to continue using her technical expertise outside of the Navy. Hoping to learn better ways to market herself and find promising job opportunities, she signed up for an American Corporate Partners mentorship a few months out from her final separation date.

Marissa found a great guide in Tim Host, a U.S. Army Veteran and Systems Team Leader with Johnson Controls (JCI). A longtime ACP Mentor, Host describes the military-to-civilian transition as daunting, often accompanied by uncertainty and anxiety.

After eight years in uniform, Marissa wasn’t sure how her experience would stack up against her peers with degrees and corporate experience. With Host’s help, she was able to translate her technical and leadership skills into a language employers understood, which quickly led to interview opportunities.

While the mentorship helped Marissa capitalize on her technical expertise, she also gained confidence in other realms. In their monthly meetings, the pair identified Marissa’s holistic strengths and workshopped the best ways to synthesize her experience into a strong application package.

Marissa, who moved from Florida to Seattle during the mentorship, was able to secure an Electrician position with Delta Marine and hit the ground running in her new location. She says Host’s empathy, encouragement, and practical advice kept her focused throughout the chaos of moving and job-searching, and she encourages other separating Veterans to connect with a Mentor.

Host describes his mentoring experience as rewarding on multiple levels, noting that ACP also supports Proteges with additional resources, webinars, and networking opportunities.

“I was so lost when I got out, and uncertain of how to even start the job hunting process.” “Tim helped me to break down my skills and really use them to show employers how I could really contribute to their business.” “After he helped me to get my resume right and [removed] the military lingo… employers started calling for interviews left and right.” “I never really thought about my other skills… like leadership, organizational skills, [or] time management.” “Even if you feel like you have everything figured out, once you get out [of the military], it may all change in an instant.”

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For a Veteran transitioning to civilian life or a Military Spouse navigating frequent moves and career changes, finding a meaningful job can be a significant challenge. Your support provides them with the tools, network, and confidence they need to succeed.

Join us in making a real difference. Your contribution, big or small, directly fuels these career transformations, creating a lasting impact on the futures of those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

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