Mentors needed for military transition program

North San Diego Business Chamber’s program to help military personnel transition into civilian careers needs mentors.

Operation Connect mentors need to be chamber members willing to provide advice and assist their mentees with networking, especially during the chamber’s monthly mixers, for at least six months, said NSDBC President and CEO Debra Rosen.

The chamber’s next mentor training session will be 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 18 at the chamber’s Rancho Bernardo office. The monthly mixers are 5 to 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday.

“One of the biggest pieces of being a mentor is teaching (mentees) how to network,” Rosen said.

Other advice they might be asked to give include what to wear to a job interview since transitioning military members have been wearing a uniform for the past several years to last few couple decades, she said. In addition, mentees might need help explaining how their military skills and experiences translate into civilian careers when writing their résumés or going to interviews.

Operation Connect began a year ago after chamber officials realized such a program was needed for those nearing their separation from the military or who just became civilians, Rosen said.

“We realized there was a gap in the marketplace,” she said, explaining transitioning military often complete a program to help them move into civilian careers, but “have nowhere to go to practice the skills they learned. There was a missing link.”

Providing the program’s graduates a free six-month chamber membership so they can network for free and take advantage of the organization’s other offerings at member rates is what sets Operation Connect apart from other programs designed to help transitioning military personnel, she said.

“Our role is not to help (graduates) find a job, but as a byproduct, a lot have gotten jobs,” Rosen said, estimating 25 percent of the 100-plus graduates over the past year got a job based on connections they made through the chamber. She said mentors have “opened doors” for their mentees and sometimes have provided referrals to an opening within their company or someone else’s company.

According to officials, the program’s mission “is to connect transitioning service members and veterans to business leaders, owners and influential people in the community. We view the transitioning service members and veterans in our region as future captains of industry, leaders and model citizens in our North San Diego community. They will enrich our local economy for years to come and are a community asset deserving of investment.”

There are 15 to 18 mentees in each all-day workshop, which is offered 10 times a year, Rosen said.

To apply to become a mentor or mentee, go to operationconnectsd.com or call 858-487-1767.