Meet Your Counselor - Dan Dougherty
Dan Dougherty, Veteran Career & Transition Counselor | US Army, Retired
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
My name is Dan Dougherty and I’ve been with SSV for about one month now. I’m originally from Philadelphia and am a die-hard Eagles fan (Go Birds!).
2. What is your military background? And did you attend any additional college or educational courses?
I was in the Infantry and officially left the military in 2024. Apart from the courses I took in the Army, I also have an Associates Degree and a Bachelors Degree.
3. What inspired you to join Still Serving Veterans?
The opportunity to help Veterans, and their families.
4. What does a typical day look like for you at SSV?
A typical day, I’ll arrive to the office around 8am, grab some coffee, and scrub through my client files to ensure their information is correct, they’ve received the requested services, verify they’re still actively looking for employment (or if they’ve found employment), etc.
Then I’ll meet with new clients and/or provide additional services to the clients I’m currently working with, whether that is updating resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn, etc.
Additionally, throughout the day, I’ll do some networking on LinkedIn and connect with Veterans, business owners, and industry recruiters in an effort to provide additional outreach and connections for current and future clients.
5. What do you find most rewarding about your work here?
The most rewarding aspect is helping Veterans navigate their post-military career and finding them a new, meaningful career.
6. In your experience, what’s the biggest challenge veterans face when transitioning to civilian life?
The biggest challenge is one, how difficult it is to find employment and two, not having a resume that is ATS compliant.
7. What advice would you give a veteran who’s hesitant to seek support?
It is extremely difficult to navigate the post-military transition by yourself. I tried to do just that when I got out and thought with my resume and military background that I’d be a shoo-in wherever I applied.
I was extremely wrong and absolutely know now that my resumes were not making it through the Applicant Tracking Systems, meaning that they were being discarded before a human even looked at it.
8. What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?
I enjoy watching movies and sports, lifting weights, and hanging out with my family. I’m a very simple man.
9. Finally, what does “Still Serving Veterans” mean to you?
To me, Still Serving Veterans means that regardless of when you left the service, we’re here for you and your needs!
