Army Veteran Turns IT Passion into a Career

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The Employment Development Department (EDD) and America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM (AJCC) help people find jobs. They connect skilled workers with employers to create stronger communities.

Alex Merical, a veteran who served in the Army for nine years, was having a hard time finding a job. After searching for five months with no luck, he went to Sacramento Works, an AJCC in Sacramento, for help.

“Literally zero call backs. I began to feel discouraged,” Merical said. “Having employment gives meaning to a person’s existence. Granted, there are other things that give a person a sense of significance, but a career is something to be passionate about, given it is the right one for the right person.”

At the EDD, Veteran Outreach Representative Richard Thornhill worked with Merical. He helped him create a job plan, signed him up for job workshops, and gave him one-on-one career advice.

“He [Thornhill] would constantly send me emails with potential jobs that even though nearly all of them were unrelated to my field, he kept me on the lookout for new opportunities,” Merical added.

After three months, Merical, who studied Computer Science, got an interview for a job in the Information Technology (IT) Department at Sacramento State University. Thornhill set up a practice interview to help him get ready.

“If a veteran had faith in me and what I could do for him, then in due course he would be successful in obtaining the job he was after,” Thornhill said.

Thanks to this help, Merical got the job and started working at Sacramento State University in May 2022.

“Getting the job at Sac State gave me the much needed security with respect to finances, resume building, and overall motivation that I will still be able to turn my passion into my career,” Merical said.

AJCCs provide no-cost help for people looking for new careers. They offer skills tests, job training, resume help, job placement, and workshops. Career counselors help job seekers find jobs that match their skills and interests. All these services are offered at no cost.

“It was easy to sign up, and there were honestly no downsides when I weighed my options,” Merical said. “If you’re a veteran in the job market, you should be exploring every avenue and opportunity for professional advancement.”