Volunteer Spotlight: Dina

Candina (Dina) Janicki draws on her extensive experience working with service members to provide veterans and their spouses with essential resources, personalized support, and practical, up-to-date career advice. Dina understands the complexities of military transitions, having recently guided her husband through his retirement after 24 years of Army service. With her daughter, an Air Force lieutenant just starting her career, Dina’s firsthand experience offers deep insight into the unique challenges faced by veterans and their families

Dina began volunteering for Hire Heroes USA six years ago through her LinkedIn connections:

“Volunteering is in my DNA. I wanted to get involved with Hire Heroes USA because I’m dedicated to the mission. I felt I could be of value because my career-services background compliments the dedication to helping veterans and spouses secure meaningful employment. Testimonials affirm that effectiveness.”

During her husband’s career, including three deployments to Iraq, she volunteered with the Family Readiness Groups, Army Community Services, and the USO. In addition to her impactful work at Hire Heroes USA, Dina manages a busy schedule, balancing her professional and volunteer commitments with American Corporate Partners and the National Career Development Association, where she also serves as co-associate editor for their Career Convergence web magazine.

Like many military spouses, Dina has navigated challenges such as raising children, managing relocations, and finding the right career path. She has tackled these trials head-on, taking on various roles such as secretary, college advisor, and career services educator with Goodwill Career Solutions. Her current role is with the Microsoft Software and Systems Academy as a career development manager for Murphy and Associates.

At Hire Heroes USA, Dina helps veterans tackle the uncertainty of planning their future, especially after years of following a path set by others during their service.  Her professional expertise helps veterans build a strong foundation for their job search by crafting standout resumes, persuasive cover letters, and effective LinkedIn profiles—key tools for both mock and real interviews.

“To prepare veterans for successful employment, I strive to instill confidence, so they know their value. I stress that service members are often promoted within the first year of a new job because of their work ethic, problem-solving, and insights.”

Dina also explores AI, encouraging veterans to think outside the box, consider all angles, and verify information. However, she emphasizes that research is imperative to ensure a client’s voice is present. Dina’s coaching sessions focus first on veterans’ understanding of themselves, their unique skills, qualifications, and values, and how to transfer these attributes to the specific industry and role being targeted.

When asked about the most important advice for Hire Heroes USA clients, Dina encourages clients ‘stay open to new opportunities and be ready to act when they arise.’

For Dina, preparation means consistently updating your marketing materials, researching your field of interest, networking, and tracking accomplishments—even when you’re not actively job hunting. She also advises veterans to stay active on LinkedIn, even after securing a job.

Dina is deeply committed to her clients, expressing:

“While fortifying their learning process, I’m strengthening mine. Whether it’s related to designing a more effective tool or offering individualized guidance — when I focus on individual needs, I’m learning to personalize my coaching.”

Dina encourages others to support veterans and military spouses, emphasizing that their success is your reward. By helping them recognize their strengths, including transferable skills and talents, you contribute to their growth. You’ll also learn from our veterans and military spouses, who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience.

We are deeply grateful to volunteers like Dina Janicki, whose dedication transforms lives and strengthens both our community and our Nation. Through their commitment, they help empower veterans and military families to build brighter futures, creating lasting, positive change for all.

Written by: Sandy Chase


If you would like to make a difference in the lives of veterans and military spouses, please click here to learn more about volunteering with Hire Heroes USA.