Proskauer is a proud supporter of American Corporate Partners (ACP), a national nonprofit organization focused on helping returning veterans and active duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking and online career advice. Each year, Proskauer provides a group of highly committed volunteers who are paired with ACP protégés to offer ongoing guidance and mentorship in pursuing civilian careers.
For many that ACP serves, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the job application process have been particularly challenging. “Our veterans are stellar individuals, but they are at a disadvantage when applying for jobs right now,” said Timothy Cochrane, Senior Vice President at ACP. “Companies will hire back people they let go at the beginning of the pandemic or recent college graduates. Many of our veterans have little or no corporate experience. Translating military skills is the number one issue they confront when finding a new position and having a mentor makes all of the difference in the world.”
Understanding these challenges, we sought to provide guidance to a larger portion of the ACP community than we already served. Working with our colleagues at ACP, we organized a virtual career readiness workshop focused on resume writing and interview preparation to take place during the Firm’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Led by Rachel Kleiner, Director of Legal Recruiting, and Mark Bunbury, Associate Director of Human Resources, the workshop attracted a large audience of more than 100 veterans, active duty spouses and ACP alumni.
In addition to explaining how to craft a compelling resume and successfully navigate an interview, Rachel and Mark shared thoughtful guidance on how veterans can best translate their roles in the armed services onto paper in ways that most strongly communicate their qualifications for various civilian careers. “Rachel and I approach every career readiness workshop that we do appreciating that the guidance we provide helps open doors of opportunity. But equipping our veterans with this knowledge is especially important to both of us. It is the least we can do for those who have ultimately done so much for us,” said Mark.
Since the pandemic began, Proskauer has adjusted its volunteer programs to enable our colleagues to continue to make a meaningful difference in the communities in which we live and work, even as we work from home. “The Firm has really committed itself to supporting our veteran population and being able to share best practices that help them improve their chances for success in the job market is something I feel honored to do,” said Rachel.
In these uncertain times, Proskauer remains committed to our neighbors who are most affected by the concurrent and compounding crises. Our sincerest thanks to Rachel, Mark and everyone in the Proskauer community who has lent their time and expertise in recent months to advise, guide and uplift those in need.