{"id":21541,"date":"2024-11-26T13:31:51","date_gmt":"2024-11-26T18:31:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/?p=21541"},"modified":"2025-03-06T20:30:02","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T01:30:02","slug":"volunteer-spotlight-jessie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/volunteer-spotlight-jessie\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteer Spotlight: Jessie"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Volunteer Spotlight: Jessie<\/h1>\n\n\n<article class=\"w-full text-token-text-primary focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-[-4px]\" dir=\"auto\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-36\" data-scroll-anchor=\"false\">\n<div class=\"text-base py-[18px] px-3 md:px-4 m-auto md:px-5 lg:px-1 xl:px-5 w-full px-3 \">\n<div class=\"mx-auto flex flex-1 gap-4 text-base md:gap-5 lg:gap-6 md:max-w-3xl lg:max-w-[40rem] xl:max-w-[48rem]\">\n<div class=\"group\/conversation-turn relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-[20px] text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 break-words [.text-message+&]:mt-5 overflow-x-auto whitespace-normal\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"user\" data-message-id=\"aaa210e6-0404-4402-849d-ac23674334a1\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden items-end rtl:items-start\">\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[70%] rounded-3xl bg-[#f4f4f4] px-5 py-2.5 dark:bg-token-main-surface-secondary\">\n<div class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\">\n<article class=\"w-full text-token-text-primary focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-[-4px]\" dir=\"auto\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-36\" data-scroll-anchor=\"false\">\n<div class=\"text-base py-[18px] px-3 md:px-4 m-auto md:px-5 lg:px-1 xl:px-5 w-full px-3 \">\n<div class=\"mx-auto flex flex-1 gap-4 text-base md:gap-5 lg:gap-6 md:max-w-3xl lg:max-w-[40rem] xl:max-w-[48rem]\">\n<div class=\"group\/conversation-turn relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-[20px] text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 break-words [.text-message+&]:mt-5 overflow-x-auto whitespace-normal\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"user\" data-message-id=\"aaa210e6-0404-4402-849d-ac23674334a1\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden items-end rtl:items-start\">\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[70%] rounded-3xl bg-[#f4f4f4] px-5 py-2.5 dark:bg-token-main-surface-secondary\">\n<div class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap\">\n<article class=\"w-full text-token-text-primary focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-[-4px]\" dir=\"auto\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-36\" data-scroll-anchor=\"false\">\n<div class=\"text-base py-[18px] px-3 md:px-4 m-auto md:px-5 lg:px-1 xl:px-5 w-full px-3 \">\n<div class=\"mx-auto flex flex-1 gap-4 text-base md:gap-5 lg:gap-6 md:max-w-3xl lg:max-w-[40rem] xl:max-w-[48rem]\">\n<div class=\"group\/conversation-turn relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col\">\n<div class=\"flex-col gap-1 md:gap-3\">\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col flex-grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-[20px] text-message flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 break-words [.text-message+&]:mt-5 overflow-x-auto whitespace-normal\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"user\" data-message-id=\"aaa210e6-0404-4402-849d-ac23674334a1\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden items-end rtl:items-start\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jessie Kang draws on her extensive HR experience to guide veterans at Hire Heroes USA and beyond, helping them navigate the complexities of civilian life. She understands these unique challenges firsthand because her husband, a 2006 Air Force retiree, faced similar obstacles while transitioning. Jessie empowers our clients with the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to thrive in the civilian workforce.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She began her journey with Hire Heroes USA five years ago during the COVID pandemic, as she looked for ways to continue her company\u2019s culture of volunteerism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThroughout my 10-year career in HR, I\u2019ve worked with many veterans who have struggled to return to civilian life. Joining Hire Heroes USA felt like the perfect opportunity to apply what I\u2019ve learned to help those at critical crossroads in their careers.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jessie\u2019s expertise is backed by certifications, including Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) from the Society for Human Resource Management. As the Director of People Operations, her extensive background serves veterans well. Additionally, volunteering is second nature to Jessie. She has contributed her time to Meals on Wheels, organized food drives, and coached students for interviews. However, working with Hire Heroes USA remains her most meaningful<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-21983 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Copy-of-Blue-and-Yellow-Bold-Welcome-To-The-Team-Facebook-Post-500-x-333-px-300x200.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"572\" height=\"381\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Copy-of-Blue-and-Yellow-Bold-Welcome-To-The-Team-Facebook-Post-500-x-333-px-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Copy-of-Blue-and-Yellow-Bold-Welcome-To-The-Team-Facebook-Post-500-x-333-px.png 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 572px) 100vw, 572px\" \/>\u00a0commitment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jessie helps our clients adapt and thrive, sharing insights from both sides of the hiring process: as a recruiter, interviewer, and hiring manager, as well as someone who has experienced the difficulties of finding employment while frequently relocating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a typical job-preparation session, she assists veterans in researching target industries, writing impactful resumes and cover letters, and mastering their interviewing skills through mock interviews.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jessie emphasizes the importance of staying technologically savvy, encouraging veterans to leverage resources like YouTube tutorials and online courses. She advises them to be dependable and to focus on the strengths of others. She lives by the quote: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBe a humble learner and a generous teacher,\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a principle she adopted from one of her former leaders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jessie\u2019s counseling benefits veterans beyond job search tactics. For instance, she often helps veterans manage interview anxiety, reassuring them that nervousness is common for both the interviewee and interviewer. She consistently reinforces their strengths.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hearing this reassurance from someone else helps veterans and spouses alike see the value of their unique skills. It\u2019s okay to have a bad interview or not get chosen for the job. She encourages them to embrace opportunities outside their comfort zone, such as returning to school, applying for a promotion, or having that difficult conversation with a colleague.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jessie\u2019s sessions also focus on preparing clients to ask meaningful questions during interviews that reveal what it\u2019s really like to work on a prospective team. Her wisdom teaches veterans to approach job research with the same rigor they\u2019d bring to a professional role.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond coaching veterans, she guides her staff on the Nexus Water Group Talent Acquisition team in veteran recruitment strategies:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cKnowing of a job opportunity or connecting veterans and military spouses with someone influential can make all the difference. I\u2019ve also inspired several of my colleagues to volunteer at Hire Heroes USA.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seeing her clients succeed, by landing a job or feeling confident after an interview, brings Jessie immense satisfaction. One particularly memorable moment was when she connected a veteran applying for a technical position in the water industry with her company\u2019s manager, who offered crucial technical advice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hire Heroes USA is grateful for Jessie\u2019s dedication. She provides veterans with essential skills helping them \u201ctranslate\u201d their military experiences and find success in the civilian sector.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial;\">Written by: Sandy Chase<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>If you would like to make a difference in the lives of veterans and military spouses, please&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/volunteer\/\">click here to learn more about volunteering<\/a>&nbsp;with Hire Heroes USA.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Volunteer Spotlight: Jessie Jessie Kang draws on her extensive HR experience to guide veterans at Hire Heroes USA and beyond, helping them navigate the complexities of civilian life. She understands these unique challenges firsthand because her husband, a 2006 Air Force retiree, faced similar obstacles while transitioning. Jessie empowers our clients with the confidence, skills, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":21983,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,50],"tags":[420,412,38,120,421,413,30,31,33,34,35,49,51],"class_list":["post-21541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-volunteer-spotlight","tag-career-coach","tag-career-development","tag-hire-heroes-usa","tag-hire-heroes-usa-volunteers","tag-interview-preparation","tag-interviewing-success","tag-military-spouse","tag-military-transition","tag-veteran-employment","tag-veteran-jobs","tag-veterans","tag-volunteer-opportunities","tag-volunteering"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21541\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hireheroesusa.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}