On Tuesday, I was excited to be with thousands of our nation’s Veterans in Detroit at the VA for Vets Hiring Fair. The fair went through Thursday, with interviews and job offers happening on the spot for jobs all around the country and across a wide variety of occupations–from pizza companies to big-name consulting firms–along with government agencies. I was especially impressed to see video interviews happening with people all around the country.

For folks in Detroit, staff were on hand to help give tips and guidance for job searches through USA Jobs with computer terminals right there, so Veterans could take an immediate look themselves. We had staff on hand to help Veterans translate their service experience into terms civilians will understand and suggest jobs that might fit the skills Veterans have gained during service. We also had folks ready to explain the federal security clearance process, so applicants could get a sense of what information it helps to have ready and how they can help their case move quickly. Taken together, it was just about everything Veterans might need to know to help make their job searches successful.

And even if you weren’t in Detroit this week, you should know that my organization, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, is proud to help job-seeking Veterans year round.  We’re working with the VA and other agencies to implement the President’s Veterans Employment Initiative within the federal government. We’ve been able to help thousands of our brave service men and women transition into civilian work. In 2011, over 28% of new hires in the federal government were Veterans, a 20-year high. We’ve also increased our hiring among disabled Veterans, from 7% of new hires in 2009, to 9% of new hires in 2011.

If you’re a Veteran looking for a job, or if you know someone who is, I hope you’ll take a look at the resources available to you. There are now Veteran Employment Program Offices in 24 federal agencies, helping Veterans write resumes for civilian occupations, and helping Veterans find and apply for jobs that match their skill sets. We’ve also made sure that the new Recent Graduates Programs keep the application window open up to six years for people who serve in the armed forces after graduation. You can also look online at Feds Hire Vets.

These are just a few of the ways we’re honoring our sacred obligation to serve those who serve our country. Together, we can help more Veterans put their skills and experience to work at new jobs.

John Berry is the Director of the United States Office of Personnel Management, where he is responsible for recruiting, hiring, and setting benefits policies for federal civilian employees.

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6 Comments

  1. John July 18, 2012 at 17:29

    Another Question — Anyone no why the newest VA training porgram is not available for older vets. Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm First stated eligibility a Veteran must: Be at least 35 but no more than 60 years old and unemployed. I tried to get an answer from VA and the Chair of the Congressional Committee of Veteran’s Affairs. Responses NONE. Guess some think a vet over 60 has nothing to contribute. Want further confirmation try and get a Government job when you are over 60.

  2. Frank July 6, 2012 at 16:31

    This event was a joke and a political event from the start. First, how is an unemployed veteran from New York or Florida or Nebraska supposed to pay to get to Detroit?

    Also, why were all the Directors of all VHA Facilites hiring ordered to attend this event at taxpayer expense?

    Why not hold regional events where local veterans can come to pursue jobs that are more local to them?

    Also, please answer Al’s question above.

  3. Al July 5, 2012 at 10:34

    Mr. Berry, supposedly there were over 24,000 jobs available around the country. Out of the thousands of veterans who participated and were matched with those jobs, how many were extended job offers?

  4. Peter July 4, 2012 at 11:12

    Wrong Medication VA Suicide
    Paranoid: a person with TBI punctuated with PTSD as disabilities from serving in the USMC and the USA stops my medical care until I stop writing opinion letters of government wrongs. The Veterans Administration years of phone harassment from the VA suicide hotline did not work so now the VA sends me wrong medication through the mail. Can the Veterans Administration be trying to kill me and cover it up? I broke my back during one Vietnam Offensive and lost most of my hearing in both ears from another Vietnam offensive. Four service-connected disabilities and the VA believe covering up government wrongs with medical malpractice can be endured. It could have been just a normal error to send a patient the wrong medication but do to the history concerning criminal wrongs by the VA are any US Military Veterans safe from the nation we did it for? Paranoid is a safety issue our editors and government use to sway the public opinion to harm individual’s character for attitude control of the majority minds.
    I am running for NH State Senate District 21 and our government officials are scared. To medically harm any US citizen as government retribution is wrong and it may not be happening in this situation but the facts are adding up. The editors continuously censor my opinion letters of my campaign and goals if elected. I am a 100% disabled US Marine telling the public it is wrong when government officials can manipulate the news and law to seek and obtain retribution on average US citizens talking about government wrongs. Of all days the Fourth of July to be telling the citizens of the USA the possibility that a 100% disabled US Marine has received a death penalty for coming back to the “world” USA alive.
    The NH Supreme Court refused to hear a case where Judge Peter Favuer criminally violated the Law and Constitution to inflict harm on US Citizens. Favuer let the Madbury NH selectmen take from local residents for the selectmen’s own self gains. The Fourth of July is a celebration of the date we stopped the British from just such wrongs. I am running for District 21 New Hampshire State Senate and the editors believe keeping the voters ignorant is the proper way to continue such control over the citizens of the USA.
    The opinion of the people cannot be censored to stop the voters from being informed of government wrongs to intentionally harm 100% disabled US citizens. To intentionally take away from the disabled to harm or limit what the natural born US citizens is saying using one’s disabilities to do so is against…

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