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At National Able Network (Able), we help make careers happen. As a Career Coach for Veterans Forward, I personally help my clients make their career goals a reality. There’s no such thing as a typical day at a nonprofit agency. Every day is different and requires different tasks to get things done. For the most part, throughout the week I am meeting with clients and interacting with prospective veteran clients. My responsibilities to my clients span the entire week and range from consulting clients on their job search and career goals to networking with counterparts throughout the veteran community.

Far and away my busiest days occur during our new Job Ready Boot Camps. These two-day workshops act as the initial training and orientation for new Veterans Forward clients. The workshops start at 10:00 a.m., but preparations begin hours before that. Two of our Chicagoland locations – Able’s headquarters in the West Loop and the Chicago Workforce Center in Pilsen – have classrooms with the computer workstations and audio/visual systems to provide an immersive training environment with numerous resources.

The seven hours of training each day covers a range of specific topics leading off with an introduction to our organization and our approach to job search which is provided by Veterans Forward Director, Len Harris. During this time, I am busy making preparations for the afternoon session which focuses on core messaging and effective personal branding. The following day, our clients build a jobseeker “toolbox” that will assist them in their job search. This toolbox contains a list of target veteran-friendly companies, effective networking techniques, and an expert-level LinkedIn profile.

Each cohort that comes out of our Job Ready Boot Camp is trained, motivated, and prepared to work together on their job search. Most go on to either a Job Search Work Team or Job Club with a new enthusiasm and energy than when they came in. That leads to faster placements and a more secure future.

A day in the life of a Veterans Career Coach can be exhausting, but seeing the success of our clients is what makes it worthwhile.

If you are a veteran who’s interested in joining our program, please click here to register for our next Job-Ready Boot Camp.

Photo: Veterans Forward Career Coach, Bobby Wise, speaks with a client on the phone.