After more than 25 years of leading people and missions in the U.S. Army, Rodney Richardson came home to Missouri with something most job seekers don’t have — decades of real leadership experience.
What he didn’t have was a clear sense of how to translate that experience into a civilian career. Through a combination of JVSG (Jobs for Veterans State Grant), Wagner-Peyser, and the dedicated staff at the Columbia Job Center, Rodney found that answer, and a full-time management opportunity to go with it.
Starting Over Stateside
Rodney walked into the Columbia Job Center on January 29, 2025, just weeks after returning to the United States from Panama, where he had been stationed for several years. He connected with Ricardo Garay, a Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialist, who determined that Rodney qualified for JVSG services through the Veteran Eligibility Screening Tool.
Rodney was honest about where he stood: he wasn’t sure which career field made sense for him yet. That uncertainty is more common than people think — especially for veterans whose entire professional identity has been shaped by military structure and service, not civilian job titles.
Ricardo didn’t hand him a job board and wish him luck. Instead, they sat down together and worked through it.
Finding Direction Through Labor Market Research
Using O*Net and MERIC — two tools that pull real labor market data about career demand, salary ranges, and skill requirements — Rodney and Ricardo explored different fields based on his interests and background. The research pointed clearly toward management. It was a natural fit for someone who had spent decades leading teams under pressure.
From there, Rodney was enrolled in both JVSG and Wagner-Peyser services and got hands-on training in MOJobs, Missouri’s online employment system, so he could conduct his own job searches and continue researching career options independently.
Building a Resume That Reflects the Real Work
One of the most common challenges veterans face is translating military experience into language civilian employers understand. Rodney had a resume — but it was built around the military. Together, he and Ricardo went through his 25+ years of service in detail, pulling out the leadership responsibilities, organizational skills, and management experience that would resonate with a civilian hiring manager.
The result was a targeted, revised resume uploaded directly to his MOJobs account — built for the career path he was actually pursuing.
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A Team Approach to Getting Hired
On August 19, 2025, Rodney was connected with Zach Neal, the Columbia Job Center’s Career and Occupational Development Liaison (CODL), bringing a second set of eyes and expertise to the process. Zach assessed Rodney’s skills and career interests and provided several job recommendations aligned with his leadership background and management potential.
From that point through early fall, Rodney stayed engaged — completing multiple follow-ups, working through additional career counseling sessions, and refining his resume through several rounds of revisions. The final version was completed September 18, 2025.
That kind of sustained engagement matters. It’s easy to do the intake appointment and disengage. Rodney kept showing up, and the Columbia Job Center staff kept showing up with him.
Landing the Job
On October 28, 2025, Rodney Richardson accepted a full-time position as a Manager Trainee with Menards. The role draws directly on the leadership, organizational, and customer service skills he developed over a career in the military — and it comes with a clear path for advancement within the company’s management structure.
It wasn’t luck. It was the result of months of focused work: labor market research, a targeted resume, individualized counseling, and Rodney staying committed to the process.
For veterans navigating the transition to civilian employment, Rodney’s experience is worth paying attention to. The skills developed in military service are real and valuable — but they often need to be translated, targeted, and positioned for the civilian market. That’s exactly what JVSG, Wagner-Peyser, and the Columbia Job Center team are designed to help with.
For employers, it’s a reminder of what veteran candidates bring to the table: discipline, leadership experience, and a track record of performing under pressure. Rodney didn’t need to be taught how to manage — he needed a door to walk through.
The Columbia Job Center helped him find it.
Are you a veteran exploring your career options? Contact the Columbia Job Center to connect with a DVOP specialist and learn more about the services available to you through JVSG and Wagner-Peyser.