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New online employment center links veterans to jobs

9 May 2014 | Cpl. Brendan Roethel Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden announced the launch of a new integrated employment tool, the Veterans Employment Center, to connect veterans and service members with employers, Apr. 23.

The Veterans Employment Center is an online tool that connects veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses with both public and private sector employers. The center is the result of an effort to improve, simplify and consolidate the current array of employment resources for veterans. Additionally, this will provide one comprehensive database of resumes for employers who are seeking to leverage the skills and talents of veterans, service members, and their spouses.

“Our service members haven’t always had the time or information they needed to prepare their resumes, to plot their career goals, to meet with employers and get the jobs they deserve. And that’s simply not acceptable,” said Michelle Obama during a press conference. “As my husband has said, when you’ve fought for this country around the world, you shouldn’t have to fight for a job when you return home. Starting today, every single service member, every veteran, and every military family will have access to a new online tool that will revolutionize how you find jobs in both the public and private sectors. All you have to do is log on to ebenefits.va.gov.”

The Veterans Employment Center is the first interagency tool to bring a wealth of public and private job opportunities, a resume-builder, military skills translator and detailed career and training resources together in one place. The site was designed and developed by Joining Forces, an organization launched by Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Departments of Defense, Labor, Education, and the Office of Personnel Management.

“This is going to put their resumes right into the hands of major companies, and take away many of the woes away from preparing to separate,” said Rickey Johnson, the program manager for the Career Resource Management Center aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. “Too many times service members looking to separate from active duty don’t know where to send their resumes, begin the application process or even find potential employers. The center will streamline this whole process and give them direction when applying for their new career.”

Joining Forces strives to engage all sectors of society to give service members and their families more opportunities and support.

“Our service members transitioning to civilian life, as well as their spouses, deserve the resources they need to be successful,” said Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. “Through this effort, they are getting that help. Our troops and their spouses are proven leaders, highly-skilled and hard-working. Employers hiring them are getting the best this nation has to offer.”

The Veterans Employment Center will provide employers with access to a targeted pool of resumes from veterans, transitioning service members and spouses in one comprehensive location. It allows them to search resumes to identify veterans with skill sets applicable to civilian employment at their organization, and to track progress towards reaching their veteran hiring goals. Resumes are visible to all employers with an active LinkedIn or Google profile.

The VEC can be found at: www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs.