Hey SOAR friend,

A new year always feels like a fresh start, and if one of your goals for 2026 is finding a new job or taking the next step in your career, now is a great time to get things in order.

One of the easiest (and most important) places to start is your resume. We recently shared a blog post with simple, practical tips to help you polish your resume and feel more confident when applying for new opportunities.

Read the blog and refresh your resume for the new year.

Once your resume’s ready, we’ve got interviews, hiring events, and new job opportunities coming up that you won’t want to miss.

Let’s get you to work,

P.S. Hit reply and let me know what you want to see in this weekly email? It will go directly to my personal inbox, and I promise to get back to you!

KY Power Hiring Event Jan. 14th (In-Person)

Kentucky Power is partnering with the Eastern Kentucky Talent Network and Ashland Community and Technical College Career Services to connect Eastern Kentuckians with full-time Remote Customer Service Representative positions.

Due to an overwhelming response, interview availability for this hiring event is limited and scheduled in advance. We are very appreciative of the strong interest in these roles, and to ensure a positive experience for all candidates, interviews cannot be guaranteed without a confirmed interview time.

To learn more about opportunities like this one, we encourage job seekers to join the Eastern Kentucky Talent Network. Members can browse the EKY Job Board 24/7, stay informed about new openings, and get to the front of the line to claim a spot at future hiring events.

Event Details:

Wednesday, January 14

One-hour interviews between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Location:

Ashland Community and Technical College - Technology Drive Campus

902 Technology Drive
Grayson, KY 41143

Interview Preparation (for scheduled candidates):

• Please bring multiple copies of your resume

• Dress code: Business casual

• Plan to arrive 10–15 minutes early for check-in!

This isn’t a typical job fair. It’s a direct, streamlined opportunity to meet with hiring leaders, highlight your strengths, and move quickly toward employment.

Newest Job Opportunities Available to Members 

Tech:

• Senior AWS Cloud Engineer — General Dynamics IT 
• Lead Software Engineer — Humana 
• Business Intelligence Engineer I — Cardinal Financial 

Remote:

• Remote Customer Service Representative — Conduent

• Oracle Cloud Applications Developer

• Claims Review Representative 3 — Humana

To apply for these roles, or to hear about even more opportunities,
Join the Eastern Kentucky Talent Network

Featured Employer: The University of Kentucky

This week, I’m excited to spotlight the University of Kentucky (UK), one of the largest employers in the state and a major provider of career opportunities across healthcare, education, research, administration, and support services. 

Through UK HealthCare and regional operations, UK offers strong career pathways, competitive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth, all while making a meaningful impact in Eastern Kentucky communities.

Current in-person opportunities with the University of Kentucky include:

• Registered Nurse (RN) — patient-centered care across hospital and clinical units 

• Patient Services & Clerical Roles — scheduling, records, and front-desk support

• Facilities, Maintenance & Skilled Trades — essential campus and clinic operations

Join the Eastern Kentucky Talent Network and mark “University of Kentucky” on your form. We’ll make sure your resume gets to the right place.

2026 Vendor Request for Qualification

We’re still accepting applications from vendors across our region for SOAR’s 2026 Vendor Request for Qualification (RFQ). This process helps us build a pool of qualified vendors to support events, marketing campaigns, and multimedia projects throughout Eastern Kentucky in the coming year.

Application Deadline:
Friday, January 16, 2026, 5 p.m. ET

Important Links:

Application Form.

2026 Vendor RFQ Document.

Join the Eastern Kentucky Job Seekers Facebook Group!

Shaping Our Appalachian Region

Connecting talent, opportunity, and community to get 15,000 Eastern Kentuckians to work by 2035.

At Shaping Our Appalachian Region, we believe in the power of community, the value of meaningful work, and the potential of every individual. We're creating pathways to move Eastern Kentucky forward, empowering individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency while contributing to thriving communities: One person at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time.