Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco , CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Thyrone,
There's some great information in these prior threads, one of them started by Bill Nobles (above).

https://acp-advisornet.org/questions/topic/self-assessment

Be sure to explore prior threads in this site, using the topic and word search tools.

Do you have any preliminary "brainstorm" ideas regarding jobs or careers where you can utilize your degree in Workforce Education & Development to help people?

Bill Nobles ⋅ Basking Ridge , NJ Exxon ⋅ 30 years experience

Thyrone, thank you for your service. If you haven't done so I suggest using one or more of the tools available on the Internet to help self-assess your personal characteristics,strengths and job interests. These free or low cost tools have revealed surprising insights to other veterans. You can find a list on my ACP posting--"What are best tools for veterans to self-assess their aptitude, capabilities, and interests?" A Google search will reveal others. Avoid sites trying to sell you career advice at a substantial fee.
Good luck, Bill Nobles

Thyrone Staunton ⋅ Clifton Park , NY U.S. Navy, Petty Officer First Class ⋅ 9 years served

Well Tom,

My B.S. focused mostly on training. There was not much on mentoring and coaching. But that would be something I would like to do. My training position during my last 3 years in the Navy involved mentoring and coaching. I am in the process of joining the Big Brother Little Sister program to mentor a youngster in my neighborhood as well. I actually didn't mind the training aspect. It just depends on the training environment. I know in some companies, most people hate training, and its just looked as a check in the box that has to get done (safety training, sexual harassment, etc) I wouldn't be interested in that. But an environment where people really wanted to learn would be nice to work in.

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco , CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Thyrone,
It might be worthwhile for you to speak with the folks at the Institute for Veterans And Military Families (IVMF) / the Veterans Career Transition Program (VCTP) at Syracuse University. As a Veteran and with a degree in "Workforce Education & Development", you might be a great addition to their professional staff.

http://vets.syr.edu/
http://vets.syr.edu/education/employment-programs/

Similarly, I also encourage you to call American Corporate Partners (ACP) and other Veterans mentoring /Veterans service organizations and inquire about potential roles and value you can add at ACP. It certainly never hurts for a non-profit catering to a target audience (in this case, Military Veterans) to have a few members of that target audience on their professional staff, especially if the individual/potential employee also has a degree well suited for the organization's mission.
http://acp-usa.org/ABOUT_ACP/Staff

You might also want to consider a career with "employment and hiring" oriented for-profit firms such as LinkedIn.com, Monster.com, rallypoint.com, hirepurpo.se . etc.

also see:
https://www.google.com/search?q=veterans+workforce+development

I'm also curious:

* What sorts of topics did your degree in "Workforce Education & Development" cover?

* What did you find the most interesting and valuable?

* Did you learn anything surprising and did your studies change your view on any topics?

* Did the coursework at all cover the topic of mentoring and coaching?

Thanks,
-Tom

Tom Cal, CFA ⋅ San Francisco , CA Army Veteran, Investment Manager ⋅ 25 years experience

Thyrone,
This article might interest you and might spark some ideas. It might be worth calling "Skills for America's Future", introducing yourself, and asking how you can help and for advice regarding your career and your interest in Workforce Development.

"Why Jobs Go Unfilled Even in Times of High Unemployment"
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/08/why-jobs-go-unfilled-even-in-times-of-high-unemployment/278801/?google_editors_picks=true

Thyrone Staunton ⋅ Clifton Park , NY U.S. Navy, Petty Officer First Class ⋅ 9 years served

Tom,
My goal is to use my B.S. degree. I am just trying to do research on where to take it and what Masters degree I can get to build on it. I was also researching on where to take it in the Education industry.

Thyrone Staunton ⋅ Clifton Park , NY U.S. Navy, Petty Officer First Class ⋅ 9 years served

Thanks Bill and Daren.

Thyrone Staunton ⋅ Clifton Park , NY U.S. Navy, Petty Officer First Class ⋅ 9 years served

Katie,

I did have a ACP mentor for about a year while I was transitioning from the Navy. It did seem to help, but he was just very new to the program as I was.

I would definitely be interested in searching for some advisors and getting any advice that I could receive.

Thyrone Staunton ⋅ Clifton Park , NY U.S. Navy, Petty Officer First Class ⋅ 9 years served

Hello Katie,

I am actually trying to figure out my goals and where I want to be. I was a trainer during my last 3 years in he Navy, and I actually enjoyed that job and helping people. It was during that time that I attained my B.S. in Workforce Education & Development. Currently I am a Service Tech that fixes industrial printers for the company I work for. Its a decent job, but I'm not passionate about it. I was thinking about getting a Masters in Management, hoping that it would be able to transfer to multiple industries. My other thinking was to try to get something in education or training, which might help me land back in a position where I am helping people again as I was my last 3 years in the military. Anyway, any advice, tips or recommendations you could provide would be greatly appreciated.