Employment

• Veterans from all periods of military service are eligible for job referral, job training and job placement assistance through the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). Veterans may access these employment services through a statewide network of VEC Local offices and the Veterans Services Staff (DVOP and LVER) who are assigned to most, but not all, of the VEC Local Offices across Virginia. Veteran representative listing available at this link http://www.vec.virginia.gov/veterans/veterans-representatives

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services offers transition assistance to veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses. To learn more, click here.

• Recruit Military is a nationwide, full-service, military-to-civilian recruiting firm. The site offers job search, career fair information, transition resources, job resources and resources for military spouses. http://recruitmilitary.com/
• The Hire Heroes USA Program in Alpharetta, Georgia, serves as a link to employment opportunities nationwide for veterans returning home. The program provides placement services to wounded veterans returning from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with any level of disability as determined by VA.  https://www.hireheroesusa.org/
• The National Resource Directory is an online partnership for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families and those who support them. The site has a section on employment including job services, internships, transition assistance, and the veteran job bank. It also has a wealth of other resources for veterans across the entire spectrum of possible needs. https://www.nrd.gov/employment
• Feds Hire Vets, government-wide Veterans employment website is a critical component of the federal government’s strategy for the recruitment and employment of veterans. Veterans, transitioning service members and their families will find this site to be full of resources and information that can assist in finding a federal career. http://www.fedshirevets.gov/Index.aspx
• VA for Vets is a career support program that offers Veterans access to the tools they need to launch or advance their civilian careers at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where they can go far to serve their fellow Veterans. Click the link for the VA career center and your gateway to VA careers  http://vaforvets.va.gov/Pages/default.aspx
• Job Accommodation Network (JAN), one of several services provided by DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, is the leading source of free, expert and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps people with disabilities enhance their employability. http://askjan.org/
• The federal government’s official one-stop source for federal jobs and employment information. Create an account to build and store up to five resumes, save and automate job searches, and apply for jobs. https://www.usajobs.gov/Veterans
• For Employers and Veteran Job Seekers: Military Warriors Support Foundation CEO’s for Heroes provides a link between partnering companies and veterans seeking employment opportunities in such employment areas as the, oil field industry, administration/clerical, business management, communications, customer service, skilled labor, marketing, sales, security, and many more. If you are a veteran that is interested in connecting with veteran friendly employers, let us help you. http://www.militarywarriors.org/ceos4heroes

• Veterans to Work Program from SAP America, providing IT job training to active duty service members transitioning out of the military and veterans who meet program eligibility. Click the link for full program eligibility and to register. https://yoh.avature.net/sap
• The Helmets to Hardhats program connects former military personnel with career opportunities in the construction trades nationwide. Candidates can access information about careers via the Helmets to Hardhats website. The profile they complete helps communicate to hiring managers the transferable skills they acquired during their military service. http://www.helmetstohardhats.org/
• Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment Training Service (DOL-VETS). Its mission statement is: “VETS Proudly Serves Veterans and Service Members! We Provide Resources and Expertise to Assist and Prepare Them to Obtain Meaningful Careers, Maximize Their Employment Opportunities, and Protect Their Employment Rights.” http://www.dol.gov/vets/
• VA vocational rehabilitation, employment and educational training programs, these offices can provide eligible disabled veterans with job-specific training and, in some cases, job placement assistance. VA also provides eligible disabled veterans with assistance to obtain assistive technology devices to enhance employment opportunities and promote self-sufficiency.http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/index.htm
• Compensated Work Therapy is a vocational rehabilitation program that endeavors to match and support work-ready veterans in competitive jobs, and to consult with business and industry regarding their specific employment needs. In some locations CWT is also known as Veterans Industries; these designations are synonymous. Typically CWT programs are located within VA medical centers in most large metropolitan areas and many smaller communities. Review the CWT Locations page to find site specifics. http://www.cwt.va.gov/index.asp

• To learn more about the advantages of hiring Virginia’s Veterans and the Virginia Department of Veterans Services Virginia Values Veterans or V3 Initiative. Click here: http://www.dvsv3.com/

• The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program provides tax credits to employers who hire qualified job seekers from one of the nine groups eligible under the program, including disabled veterans.  An employer can earn up to a $9,600 tax credit by hiring those most in need of employment at the same time assisting those who have served our country. http://www.doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/
• The Work Support website of the Virginia Commonwealth University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Workplace Supports and Job Retention. The Center’s purpose is to study those supports that are most effective for assisting individuals with disabilities maintain employment and advance their careers. The site contains valuable resources for service providers such as training sessions, and information about many different aspects of employment of people with disabilities.http://www.worksupport.com/
• A U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) project, the American Heroes at Work initiative addresses the employment challenges of returning service members living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Designed for employers and the workforce development system, this website is your link to information and tools to help returning service members living with TBI and/or PTSD succeed in the workplace – particularly service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.http://www.americasheroesatwork.gov/
• The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), in alliance with DOL’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL/ODEP), launched this “Disability Employment Resource Page.” The page is geared toward employers and offers resources, articles and information to help recruit, hire and retain people with disabilities. The new resource page also includes video interviews of experts in the field of disability employment.http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/Diversity/Articles/Pages/disability_072110.aspx
• This DOL agency has responsibility for development and administration of training programs and services for the nation’s workforce. ETA is a member of America’s Workforce Network – the nationwide system of workforce organizations that provides information and services to employers, job seekers and employment specialists. Access to programs at state and local levels can be obtained by calling America’s Workforce Network toll-free help line (1-877-US2-JOBS). http://www.doleta.gov/jobseekers/

• Small Business Administration Office of Veterans Business Development seeks to maximize the availability, applicability and usability of all administration small business programs for veterans, service-disabled veterans, Reserve Component members, and their dependents or survivors. This site contains information about the Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative, the Veterans Business Outreach Program, and contact information for regional Veterans Business Development Officers.http://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/1/2985
• Small Business Administration Patriot Express Loan Program is available to military community members including veterans, service-disabled veterans, active-duty service members participating in the military’s Transition Assistance Program, Reservists and National Guard members, current spouses of any of the above, and the widowed spouse of a service member or veteran who died during service or of a service-connected disability. The loan can be used for most business purposes including start-up, expansion, equipment purchases, working capital, inventory, or business-occupied real-estate purchases. http://www.sba.gov/content/express-programs