Field Test Example for Workforce Boards: Veteran Career Exploration
James is a 36-year-old Army veteran living in a small coastal town in the Northeast. After leaving the military over a decade ago, James has been managing a busy waterfront restaurant. Though he enjoys the work, he dreams of starting his own sightseeing boat business one day. Determined to find a career that aligns more closely with his entrepreneurial aspirations, he visits the local workforce board office, where he’s introduced to TalentPass—a tool designed to help him organize his experience, showcase his skills, and set clear career goals. With TalentPass, James feels that he’s finally on the path toward a future that aligns with his personal ambitions.
Meeting with Mike: Exploring TalentPass
James, a 36-year-old Army veteran walks into a workforce board office in a small northeastern coastal town. He’s meeting with his career advisor, Mike, to discuss new career paths. James currently manages a local waterfront restaurant but dreams of owning a boat for a sightseeing business. Mike introduces him to TalentPass, a tool to help showcase his skills and explore opportunities.
Mike: “TalentPass is a great way to showcase your unique skills and experiences, James. It’ll make it easier to connect with roles that match your background and future plans.”
James: “I like the sound of that. I’ve been wanting to move into something that gets me closer to working on the water.”
Uncovering Skills: Identifying Transferable Experience
As Mike reviews James’s TalentPass profile, he highlights James’s diverse skill set from previous roles, such as leadership, customer service, and emergency management. He points out how these skills can align with roles in logistics or waterfront operations, both well-suited for James’s ambitions.
Mike: “Leadership and customer service are crucial in waterfront operations, especially with the tourism industry. And your emergency management skills? They’re a big plus here.”
James: “I hadn’t thought about how these skills could transfer. Waterfront logistics sounds like a good fit.”
Mike and James set up a growth plan within TalentPass, focusing on applying for waterfront and logistics roles. James hopes these jobs will provide relevant experience and help him save for his sightseeing boat. He feels motivated, knowing he’s taking actionable steps towards his goal.
Mike: “Let’s set a few goals here in TalentPass. I suggest applying to a few logistics roles and then updating your profile with any new skills.”
James: “This makes it feel real. I like having these steps laid out—it’s motivating.”
A few months later, James is in a community computer lab, updating his TalentPass profile. He’s logging achievements from his new job in a waterfront logistics role, a step closer to his boat-owning dream. His profile now shows his progress and dedication, building confidence for his future goals.
James (thinking): “This feels like progress. Working in logistics is giving me exactly the experience I need to start my own boat business someday.”
With TalentPass, James is building a career that not only leverages his existing skills but also positions him closer to his dream of owning a sightseeing business. TalentPass has helped him organize his experience, set actionable goals, and build a clearer vision for his future. Now equipped with a tool to track his journey, James feels more empowered than ever to create the life he envisions. By using TalentPass to support veterans in career transitions, workforce boards can bridge the gap between past experiences and future goals, helping individuals like James achieve meaningful, goal-aligned careers.
