Episode 377: The Importance of Creating Inclusive Apprenticeships for Veterans With Kristin Strand

One question I wanted to make sure to ask is for veterans. As you mentioned, you were the first veteran to go through the Apprenti program in Delaware. What would you like employers to know about the importance of creating inclusive apprenticeships, specifically for veterans? Episode 377: The Importance of Creating Inclusive Apprenticeships for Veterans With Kristin Strand   Welcome to the Workology Podcast, a podcast for the disruptive workplace leader. Join host Jessica Miller-Merrell, founder of Workology.com, as she sits down and gets to the bottom of trends, tools, and case studies for the business leader, HR and recruiting professional who is tired of the status quo. Now here’s Jessica with this episode of Workology. Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:00:43.53] This episode of the Workology Podcast is powered by the Partnership on Inclusive Apprenticeship or PIA. PIA is funded by the US Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, or ODEP. In November of 2020, ODEP launched PIA to ensure all apprenticeship programs are inclusive and accessible to people with disabilities. PIA collaborates with employers and apprenticeship programs to help meet employer talent needs and enable people with disabilities to benefit from apprenticeships that increase their opportunities for lifelong access to high-growth and high-demand jobs. The Workology Podcast is sponsored by Upskill HR and Ace The HR Exam. These are two training and development programs that Workology offers. And, before I introduce our guest today, I want to hear from you. Please text the word “PODCAST” to 512-548-3005 to ask questions, leave comments and make suggestions for future guests. This is my community text number and I want to hear from you. Today we are joined by Kristin Strand. She’s an associate consultant at Barr Advisory and participant in Apprenti’s Tech Apprenticeship program. Kristin is an Army veteran and was referred to Apprenti by the Department of Labor. She completed her one-year apprenticeship in cybersecurity in May of 2022. Kristin, welcome to the Workology Podcast. Kristin Strand: [00:02:10.23] Thank you. Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:02:11.46] Let’s jump in and talk about your background and what led you to seek an apprenticeship, specifically in IT. Kristin Strand: [00:02:19.29] Sure. So I was originally a math teacher. I got my bachelor’s degree in math from Virginia State University, and I was a math teacher for six, seven years. And I wanted to pursue a career in IT specifically, because I felt that it would still be a rewarding career like teaching is. And also a stable, stable field like teaching is as well. And, of course, I also wanted to make more money than I was as a teacher, and I decided to go the apprenticeship route because I didn’t want to have to go back to college or to spend a lot of time really studying on my own before I could actually get into a job or a career. So the apprenticeship helped me be able to learn and then put me right into a job right after. Jessica Miller-Merrell: [00:03:13.05] I love that and I hate that we had to have you leave the teaching profession. But I absolutely understand more income opportunities, probably more flexible schedule for you. I remember if we talked, when we talked in the prep call, you’re remote. So that also allows you to be able to be home and be present, too. Let’s talk a little bit about your background as an IT specialist in the military and what experience you gained there. Kristin Strand: [00:03:32.39] Yeah.