Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/770187
22 November, 2016 l Working World l WorkingWorld.com M onths ago when I joined the Labor Department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service, I vowed to work every day to make sure our veterans have the resources they need to get good jobs. That includes fostering strong relationships with our government and private sector partners to build better networks of services for our veterans. It also includes listening to veterans and transitioning service members to understand what challenges they face when looking for employment. That helps me understand what we can do to make things a little smoother. In my travels around the country, one of the comments I hear the most is about the variety of websites for veterans' employment. It's often hard for transitioning service members, veterans and their spouses to know where to start, whether they're looking for a first civilian job after the military, wanting a career change or hoping to start a business. And I've heard similar things from employers who want to hire veterans but don't know where to begin. Today, I am pleased to share with you the best starting point to build a better network of resources: our virtual, one-stop online employment services website, Veterans.gov. The site brings together job banks, state employment offices, American Job Centers, opportunities in top trending industry sectors and tools for employers. Here are some of the resources you'll find in just a few clicks on Veterans.gov: For Job Seekers • Connect with one-on-one assistance in the nearly 2,500 American Job Centers located conveniently in communities around the country. • Explore online job listings. • Search career paths by industry, by similarity to military careers, or by keyword. • Locate approved local training programs, colleges and universities. • Find federal jobs as well as government career programs in sectors like agriculture, transportation, energy/utilities and homeland security. • Learn how to start a business. For Employers • Connect with our regional employer outreach specialists, who can share local resources for meeting your unique hiring needs. • Post position descriptions and openings. • Get a free hiring toolkit, "America's Heroes at Work," and other resources. • Make a public commitment to hire veterans. As we continue to grow Veterans. gov and its content, we want to give customers the most robust and valuable experience we possibly can. To do that, we'll be meeting with our government and private sector partners to learn from them what works well and hear their suggestions for improving the site. I encourage everyone to try it out today, and spread the word about all the resources Veterans.gov has to offer. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mike Michaud is the assistant secretary of labor for veterans' employment and training. FEATURE ARTICLE by Mike Michaud The Veterans Employment Resources You Need It's often hard for transitioning service members, veterans and their spouses to know where to start, whether they're looking for a first civilian job after the military, wanting a career change or hoping to start a business.