Truck Driver Recruiting: Hiring Veterans
This time last year I had the honor and privilege of attending the US Army All-American Bowl as a member and supporter of the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces, a website operated by the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard providing employers with a direct link to recruit U.S. service members and their families.
Now, as hundreds of thousands of young men and women, America’s sons and daughters, are returning home after fighting valiantly in Iraq and Afghanistan, they are facing a significant barrier: A weak economy with overall unemployment of 8.5%. What’s worse is that the overall unemployment rate among veterans is 11.7%. The jobless rate for veterans who have served in the military since 9/11 rose to 13.1%, while a troubling 22% of the unemployed veterans are between the ages of 19-24.
The transition back into civilian life is not always easy, especially with our current economic backdrop. Our returning veterans need work and opportunity to have stable, productive lives. Fortunately, help is on the way.
Federal and state governments are trying to get an estimated 900,000 unemployed veterans back to work by giving tax breaks to businesses that hire them. On November 21, 2011 President Obama signed into law the Vow to Hire Heroes Act, which includes tax credits for businesses that hire veterans, along with additional resources for veterans seeking jobs, education and training. VOW stands for Veterans Opportunity to Work.
“Just think about the skills these veterans acquire at a very young age: the leadership they’ve earned, the technology they’ve mastered, the ability to adapt to changing circumstance that you can’t learn in the classroom,” Obama said. “This is exactly the kind of leadership and responsibility every American business should be competing to attract.”
Hiring a veteran who has been unemployed for over a month yields a credit of $2,400. If a veteran has been unemployed for over six months, the credit is $5,600. The credit is $9,600 for hiring a veteran disabled in a combat zone who has been out of work for more than six months.
To help employers find and hire veterans seeking civilian employment, a handful of job boards are listed here:
Employer Partnership Program
https://www.employerpartnership.org
This site is operated by the U. S. Army Reserve and the National Guard through partnership as the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces. As an employer, to use this site, you must first sign up as an Employer Partner there is no cost to the employer or the veteran.
Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve
http://www.esgr.org/site
ESGR is a Department of Defense organization that offers a variety of employer support programs for National Guard members and Reserve forces from all branches of the military.
Hire Heroes USA
www.hireheroesusa.org
Site operated by Hire Heroes USA, headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, HHUSA’s services are provided at no cost to the veteran. Partnership costs for employers vary depending on the level of activity. Click here to see the various employer contribution packages.
Vet Jobs
http://vetjobs.com/empMember.htm
Operated by Vet Jobs, Inc. The web site is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Anyone may apply to the jobs on this site, but to post a resume you must have served in the United States military or been a member of a United States military family. Membership cost for employers vary depending on the level of activity. Click here to see the various employer member rates.
Military.Com/Monster Veteran Employment Center
http://www.military.com/veteran-jobs
Operated by Monster.Com, a Monster Worldwide company. Employers buy job postings and/or resumes at various prices. Click here to see the various rates.
HirePatriots
http://hirepatriots.com
This site allows businesses and job seekers to post capability statements, resumes, pictures, logos and other information about themselves or their companies.
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