I remember when I first got out of the Navy that I didn't give working with the Federal Government a single thought. I actually started looking for jobs in the private sector and was blessed to get a great job with Frito Lay. Unfortunately, when I left Virginia and moved to Georgia, Frito Lay didn't have anything available that matched my skillset. Somehow I ended up working with AT&T, Publix Supermarket, and Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo). I truly had no idea what I wanted to do. By the time I realized that I would really love a Federal job it was too late. My little veterans points didn't do much to help me get in, even though I am still trying. Currently, 1 in 3 Federal employees are veterans so it may be a bit easier for me now.
In the meantime, I applied for a job that I had no idea what it was. All I knew was that it was a County job and I liked the idea of working for my local County. Imagine my surprise when I found that it was the perfect fit for me. I now had a job that would allow me to help others, while also preparing me for that coveted Federal job I'm going to get soon. :-)
I don't know how many of you have ever heard of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014. It has been around for several years with different names but now it is known as WIOA. Under this act we are given funds to assist individuals with getting back to work. And as veterans you will receive "priority of service". The act also has several programs that help you go back to school. This is really good for those of you who may have skills in a certain area but are not certified. You can also complete your Bachelors degree if you are within 2-years of completion.
We also work with youth between the ages of 16-24 who are unemployed or under-employed. If they don't have their high schoool diploma or GED we can help them study for those, as well as pay for the test. We can also help adults in obtaining their GED as well.
I work in the Business Services side. I work with businesses who have open positions and I assist them in filling those positions. We offer them On-the-Job training opportunities, where we reimburse them a portion of an individuals salary, and we can help them train their current workers, as long as they are upskilling them.
The great part about this program is that it is totally free to the participant. Of course there are eligibility requirements but if you are unemployed, under-employed, or have been laid off from your job through no fault of your own, you are pretty much assured of being eligible. Here is the link to the website if you want to learn more - https://www.doleta.gov/wioa/. This is a Federal program so it is available in all states and United States territories. You can Google your local WIOA office to locate the one closest to you.
We also work very closely with the State Department of Labor offices. They also offer employment assistance. There are Local Veteran Employment Reps (LVERS) and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPS) onsite. In my current role I send them the open jobs that I get and they forward the information to the qualified veteran.
I would encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities if you find that you are having a hard time obtaining employment. There are some great resources out there but many people just don't know where to go to find them.
Tomorrow I'm going to share with you some great work at home jobs. These are great for those of you who are unable to leave your home or if you just want to earn some additonal income.
As always, thank you for your support.
TTYL - Be blessed!!
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