Chris Poe received an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps in 2012. After departing from military service, he was able to find employment as a civilian in logistic services at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. Six years later, however, he found himself laid off.
Poe was unemployed and frustrated by his new situation. Thankfully, a visit to his local America’s Job Center of California led to a referral to an Employment Development Department (EDD) veteran specialist. That specialist, Noe Reyes, was also a former member of the military, having served in the United States Air Force. She now serves as a Disabled Veteran’s Outreach Program specialist helping fellow veterans find meaningful employment.
“It is easy for veterans to feel discouraged after losing their job and that’s why for me, it’s important to encourage veterans to recognize and highlight their skills that make them ideal candidates for the job that they want,” said Reyes.
Reyes and Poe met and began working together towards Poe’s goal of reemployment.
She assisted him in formatting resumes for logistic specialist opportunities and provided him with guidance on how to highlight his relevant skills. Reyes also referred Poe to resources on writing a professional follow-up email to use after a job interview to create a connection with the employer’s person of contact.
“I provided examples of effective communication techniques so that he could build confidence and ensure that the employer will remember him.” said Reyes.
The hard work paid off. Poe accepted a position with Prime Tech International in San Diego as a Supply Management Analyst – a position that begins at $70,000 per year..
“I am satisfied with the workplace, and we work well with each other,” said Poe.
Reyes is confident that Poe will have a bright future with his new employer.