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A solider's path to employment at Dominion Energy
At Dominion Energy, we see the value veterans bring to our organization. We have committed to bridging the gap that stands between servicemen and women and a career.
This article is about:
The value veterans bring to Dominion Energy
Bridging the gap between the military and civilian careers
For many returning soldiers, the road to civilian employment can be long and winding. These men and women spend months or years in a foreign country, but reentry to the US workforce after a deployment can often feel just as foreign. While their peers are advancing in their careers, soldiers return to a new workplace, a changing economy, and new expectations. Many veterans had placed their personal life on hold and return to find another battle waiting at home: rejoining the workplace.
At Dominion Energy, we see the value veterans bring to our organization. We have committed to bridging the gap that stands between servicemen and women and a career.
Former Army National Guard Specialist, Aaron Rutter, reflects on his road to employment at Dominion Energy. He says it was the people who encouraged him to keep trying until he was hired as a draftsperson for Dominion Energy Transmission, Inc.
Aaron grew up in W.Va. and was familiar with Dominion Energy as an employer of choice. “After returning from a tour in Iraq, I began getting serious about starting my career at Dominion Energy,” he said. “I graduated with a degree in architecture and impressed by DETI’s Gold LEED certification recognizing its green building standards.”
But for Aaron, it was the current employees who had the biggest influence on his career choice. “My military friends, people I met at car enthusiast events, and college classmates would encourage me to apply and keep applying until I found the right fit,” Aaron remembers. “That’s what led me to talk to Dominion Energy’s staffing specialist, Kelli Jo McNemar, who guided me through the employment process.”
Kelli Jo met Aaron while participating in an employment event with Operation Welcome Home, a non-profit dedicated to bringing employers together with veterans. Aaron was a former Armorer and Supply Specialist and a Carpenter and Masonry Specialist with the 115th Engineer Company of the West Virginia Army National Guard and has extensive knowledge in carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing, and project management. Kelli Jo remembers meeting Aaron saying, “He was a talented and determined candidate that needed some support fitting his skills with the right job.” She went on to send Aaron several job listings until finding the right fit for Aaron. She continued to coach him throughout the process.
As Aaron reflects on this time, he now offers encouragement to fellow veterans: “Apply, be persistent, and stay confident in your abilities; it will pay off in the end.” How does Aaron feel now that he is part of the Dominion Energy team? “Even two months in, I can already see that this company backs its spoken commitment to veterans with real action.” Aaron went on to commend his new workplace saying, “There is a great spirit of comradery here with supportive and happy people. I am fortunate to have found my career and want to support other veterans so that they can too.”
Learn more about Dominion Energy’s commitment to veterans and the military.
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