Michael Kimes’ Post

The DoD SkillBridge Program #changes on June 30th, 2025 It requires all companies to have a new MOU (third party providers & #all companies that want to host interns) There are only going to be 2x short periods of time each year where the DoD is accepting applications ... and there are a whole host of new requirements coming regarding: 1 - salary requirements 2 - reporting requirements 3 - job offer percentages 4 - minimum number of interns hosted a year 5 - training plans 6 - and more... There are quite a current providers that will likely no longer be doing SkillBridge or Career Skills Program internships And, based on some conversations, the DoD is REALLY going to be looking at companies to ensure service members have a positive experience AND the have a high-probability of continued employment (at a living wage) #quinnsights #militarytransition Getting the new MoU, processing the paperwork (by Service), and staying aligned with requirements can be A LOT for companies without dedicated SkillBridge teams And that is where HireMilitary comes in We can handle the MoU process for you (submit as 3rd party) Find you incredible Talent Process the paperwork for interns and Handle reporting requirements to DoD If your company is interested in learning more? Send me a DM and we will be happy to schedule a call

Who wants direct access to Military Talent Teams at 15+ employers?? If you said *YES* then join 50strong for our next EmployerConnect event on 11/21 at 3 PM ET. These EASY, CASUAL, VIRTUAL events are for all military-affiliated job seekers and students. Learn more about military talent pathways with our employer partners and then network DIRECTLY with recruiters to grow your network and amplify your job search. RSVPs are open here https://lnkd.in/eaPXZQpc Who's joining us? Raise your hand in the comments 🙋 #militarytalent #veteranjobs #studentveterans #employerconnect #50strong #networking #militaryspousejobs #Skillbridge #internships #jobopenings

#ServiceMembers & #TransitioningMilitary Here are some questions & considerations I would ask as part of your #SkillBridge journey: 1️⃣Is there a job description for this #SkillBridge opportunity?  (If not, the company likely shouldn't be offering this opportunity as it may not be aligned with a full-time position.) 2️⃣Is this opportunity backed by an actual job?  (If not, don't make this opportunity your primary choice) 3️⃣What's the salary range for this positions, should you complete the program and be offered the job?  (This isn't where you negotiate.  But you should go into this with your eyes wide open to ensure the salary on the back end meets what you need or feel you deserve.   *** If you're changing career fields you likely won't command the same amount of money you're making now.) 4️⃣How many #SkillBridge interns have you had here before, or in the last year?   (Get a feel for their level of commitment to the #SkillBridgeProgram.) 5️⃣How many of your previous #SkillBridge interns were offered jobs in the areas they were trained in? (Companies should be offering more than 75% of their #SkillBridge interns FT jobs in the areas they were trained in. If they're offered jobs that were not what their #SkillBridge opportunity was, that's a red flag.) 6️⃣Who are your most recent #SkillBridge graduates? (Reach out to them and hold informational interviews to learn.) 7️⃣Are you interviewing with the Hiring Manager, and / or the person who will be deciding to hire you? 8️⃣How will the decision be made to offer me the full-time job? 9️⃣What will be part of my training? (hours, location, expected achievements) 🔟Will I receive an industry recognized certificate as part of my training, or will a cert be required of me in order to get hired? 1️⃣1️⃣Is that certification included in the internship? (Do I have to pay for it?) 1️⃣2️⃣Does participating in your #SkillBridgeProgram require I use my GI Bill or Credentialing Assistance? (Institute for Veterans and Military Families - IVMF and ACT Now Education offer some certs for free) 1️⃣3️⃣How does your org support employment after the training is completed? (What dedicated resources do they have to help place you?) 1️⃣4️⃣Do you have companies that hire directly from your program? (Which orgs?) Not all #DoDSkillBridgeOpportunities are created equally Treat your #DoDSkillBridge selection process just like you would your job search. 👉Ask questions to ensure the opportunity and org align with your career goals 👈 #MilitaryTransition #TransitioningServiceMembers #DoDSkillBridgeProgram #SkillBridgeOpportunities

💥 MilCruit Virtual Connection Event 💥 Are you interested in an Apprenticeship, Internship or SkillBridge opportunity?    Join MilCruit member 🪖Steven Weston🪖 Weston (recruiter) and Paola Martinez (Sr. Manager, Military Recruitment Programs) with Verizon, on 30 May @430EST to hear more about their OPEN positions. There’s a reason over 8K veterans call #Verizon home. It’s the sense of community and camaraderie. It’s the tools and resources that take you from active service to your next big move. It’s what Verizon calls network strong. Ready for your next assignment? https://lnkd.in/enWahK9W Help spread the word...Share, Tag, Comment! Event Link In Comments! Want to get in on the action early? Email #MilCruit at [email protected] with your resume and introduce yourself! #connections #motivation #hiring #humanresources #skillbridge #internship #apprenticeship #veteranssupportingveterans

Prompted by a post from Rob Illidge, I’ve been thinking about what we do, as businesses and professionals, to support schools in preparing the next generation of workers. I’ve asked a number of my connections for help with this and most have brushed me off or plain ignored me but others like James Willetts, Lewis Ellis and Fraser Chapman have gone out of their way to offer their time, help and guidance which has made a real and measurable difference to students futures. When these fantastic young people enter the world of work I hope they return to the companies that have supported them. At NetWeaver - Web Hosting, I’m proud of the support we’ve provided to local schools, both in terms of time to support events and sponsorship, and training in the form of apprenticeships. I can say with absolute certainty that some of our very best people came through this route. We all have opinions on the next generation but unless we’re doing all we can to support them, our opinion has no value at all. If we want the best people in our companies, we need to help them get there. So, what could you do? Could you support an event at your local school? Pay for some equipment? Offer a placement? Take on an apprentice? Offer an online course? If you’re anywhere near Bolton I can probably hook you up with a contact at our amazing UTC. We have a careers fair coming up. If you’re not, send a couple of emails - you might just be amazed at how much you get out of it. #education

The other day Dave Schantz, DoD SkillBridge Champion mentioned that if a transitioning Service Member waited until they were in their 180-day window before their separation date to do an internship, it would most likely be too late. With the Ft. Cavazos MEGA Fair coming THIS TUESDAY, 1/28 from 10- 3, I wanted to mention again that it is important to walk these fairs, even if you have many months before separation, regarding internships. The reason it’s one would be out of luck if one waited for their window is because cohort slots fill fast. What’s a cohort? Cohorts are the chunks of time an internship runs, 5 weeks for CDL, 12 weeks for a Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship, 18-weeks to attend Veterans In Piping, you get the gist. So, for example, those 5-week chunks of time throughout the calendar year to do a CDL internship are cohorts and there are only a certain number of slots that Service Members can fill for each of them. One cannot say, “Well, I want to do my internship in May;” It doesn’t work like that. Your internship must align with the cohort that finds you closest to finishing your internship and stepping off the installation. So, you must consider attending an internship ahead of time because there will be only one chunk of time for that particular company or program you can fit. That’s why the sooner you apply for an internship the better chance your name will fill the slot you need. You do not need to be complete with TAP to hand in your application either, just be registered for TAP and attending. You only need to Capstone and be TAP complete, before starting your internship. Walk these career fairs early on in transition. Companies usually have handouts listing their internship cohort dates, so you can do the math. It’s also recommended to begin this process early to ‘warm up’ leadership and telegraph goals. Sorry for the long post, but after years as a Certified US ARMY TAP Transition Counselor, how internships work has been confusing for clients. I hope this helps clear the way toward your training for a successful new career! #transitioningservicemembers #leavingthemilitary #skillbridge 

AllegiantVets Skillbridge Review ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Rating 5.0 / 5 Review by anonymous: “I heard of AV from a co-worker. I was interested in several SkillBridge opportunities, but the timing between applying and starting an internship created issues for me. My experience with other internships put me in a corner because the different companies have a window where I had to apply within a 60-day window of starting the internship. To maximize my SB and complete 180 days, I would have had to start the application process in November, interview through Thanksgiving and Christmas, and, if I was accepted, route my SB application to my command while everyone is off during the Holidays and New Year. AV application was easy, and I was approved through my education center and command within a week. The whole process reduced my anxiety and stress while allowing me to plan for my next career. Once in AV, the support from the team was excellent. AV was with me every step of the way and brought in many guest speakers to help me transition back to civilian life. If you are considering a SB, then this is the SB that you should take advantage of to better yourself. The work can be challenging at times, but the community and staff support solidified why this program is the best SB offered. I recommend 100 days in the program to get its full benefit and use the rest of your 80 days (180 total) to house hunt (20 days) and apply for jobs on terminal leave (60 days). You also get guidance on how to use LinkedIn, tailor your resume, and build your network, all the things the military preaches but cannot offer. Go with AV; it's the best decision you can make!” See the full review here : https://lnkd.in/dUADptHN 🚨 Make sure to follow us for more reviews! #skillbridge #dodskillbridge #skillbridgeprogram #militarytransition #transitioningmilitary

🚨 Share with a student or recent graduate. Don’t disqualify yourself because you are a recent graduate. You may think that you don’t have enough experience to apply for a federal position, but that is not the case. Here are a few tips for recent graduates. 1️⃣Enter the word “Pathways” in the USAJOBS search bar. Pathway positions are for recent graduates and individuals seeking government internships. You must apply within two years of getting your degree or certificate (veterans have up to six years to apply due to their military service obligation). 2️⃣Include volunteer experience in your federal resume. Volunteer experience counts just as heavily as a paid position. 3️⃣List your education before your work experience and include relevant coursework. Doing this allows you to showcase your recent degree when you do not have much work experience. If you are a recent grad or seeking a federal job or federal internship, we’d love to help you. Contact us at resumesbyneen.com #recentgrads #classof2024 #recentgraduate #students #resumesbyneen #jobseekers #usajobs #federalhiring #federalresume

🌟 Internship/Job Spotlight! 🌟 Internship Spotlight: Meet Damir Hamzic   Company: Moss & Associates (Construction) Internship Location: Clewiston, Florida  Major: Safety Occupational Health Applied Sciences   • Did you get this job/internship from the career fair?: Yes, I did get my internship from the career fair • What are you most excited for at your new job/internship?: I’m excited to learn and apply my education  • What advice would you give to incoming SOHAS, CMGT or CSS students?: I would advise them to look for internships as early as possible and be open to getting out of their comfort zone and away from home like myself. • Why did you choose this company?: I chose this company because I wanted to move away from New England and try new things #KeeneState #InternshipSpotlight #ConstructionManagement #MOSSandAssociates

Sometimes it isn't just thinking of instant results, but long term change! Students, and parents of students, with an EHCP can sometimes find out about all their options when its too late. One of my personal targets for this year is getting exposure of Supported Internships to students year 9+. Class base learning doesn't suit all learners, and my hands on programmes could be exact what they need, and change the trajectory of their future. I've been working with local authorities on how we can showcase our offering. Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending The Forest Academy Careers fair to inform and take questions from year 9, 10, 11 and sixth form. Its surprising how so many didn't know what a Supported Internship is! It may not be that I can support the young person instantly, but they're now the conversations of work experience has started, and you could see the buy in from them for real life, on the job, experience! Lets keep talking about it! #supportedinternships #EHCP #Education