Yet it can be a struggle getting businesses to see the value of young war veterans, and helping thos

The familiar structure of military life was gone, and it was time to adapt to a very different mission: finding a job.
But for young vets who served after the 9/11 attacks, the number is higher: 10%. That rate peaked at 13.1% in December midwest vet supply 2011. But today, it still translates into 246,000 midwest vet supply post-9/11 vets who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country — and who now are looking for work.
That’s because a 2-year-old federal program that retrains veterans and offers tax breaks to businesses that hire veterans — the VOW to Hire Heroes Act — is set to expire at the end of the year. Also, Congress has slashed a social midwest vet supply safety net that provides food stamps to feed more than 900,000 veterans and their families.
“Some veterans have trouble explaining the value of their military experience,” said Mike Abrams, a former Afghan war combat Marine who helps fellow vets get jobs in the private sector. “On the other side, some recruiters and hiring managers who haven’t served in the military have trouble understanding the military experience.”
Vets frequently enter the civilian workforce with ready-made skill sets suitable for industries such as safety and security, telecommunications, vehicle operations, road and track maintenance, administration and management.
Many who exit the military find new careers in transportation industries such as railroads — where up to 25% of workers are vets — and aviation and public transit. “They’ve served our country,” said American Public Transit Association President Michael Melaniphy. “It’s time for us to step up and be there for them.”
Caruso is now one of the newest employees at Denver’s Regional midwest vet supply Transportation District. As a signal power maintainer, Caruso works on signals and substations across an expanding light-rail transit network. He says he got the position in part because of his skills working on a team that tested amphibious assault midwest vet supply vehicles at Camp Pendleton in California.
“I am unapologetic about advocating for returning vets and veterans in general,” said former Command Sgt. Maj. Phil Washington, who leads RTD after a 24-year Army career. “I’ve talked to soldiers for the last 10 years about making the transition midwest vet supply … and the transferable thing you bring is leadership.”
According to the statistics, younger veterans are having the most challenges finding work after serving. Washington, midwest vet supply who enlisted in the Army as a teenager midwest vet supply after enduring hardscrabble beginnings in public housing on Chicago’s Southside, says he thinks those younger vets ages 18 to 20 are a strong midwest vet supply asset to the workforce.
“(They) come in most cases with a can-do attitude that you can mold and shape,” Washington said. They come with a background of selfless service, he added, “and I can work with that.”
Yet it can be a struggle getting businesses to see the value of young war veterans, and helping those vets understand how to market themselves in the private sector. And that’s where Abrams, the Afghanistan war veteran, comes in.
In 2010, when veterans’ unemployment was skyrocketing, Abrams started Four Block, a semester-long training and development course for student vets sponsored by City University of New York. The goal was to teach vets how to choose midwest vet supply appropriate career paths, network, interview and translate their skills into a new job. The program has taken veterans to networking events midwest vet supply at JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs.
“We’ve worked with about 100 vets and have more than an 80% success rate getting them entry-level midwest vet supply jobs and internships,” said Abrams. Four Block is now looking for support from corporations and nonprofits to expand to other cities.
1. Don’t expect someone to give you a job: “Employers respect and appreciate your service, but that rarely translates into a job offer. You need to communicate how you’re able to add value.”
2. Network midwest vet supply with other veterans: “Veterans represent one of the largest professional midwest vet supply networks in the world.” Leverage groups such as the American Legion and contact veteran support organizations, says Abrams. Students can use resources such as a university student-veteran center.
3. Practice, practice, practice: “Practice your pitch, refine your resume and go on as many job interviews as you can,” says Abrams. “And, do everything you can to get an in-person meeting with potential employers to put your practice to use. Remain flexible with your schedule as face-to-face meetings can be more valuable than a phone call.” midwest vet supply
4. Utilize technology: “Like many people on active duty, you’ve probably used tools like Skype to keep in touch with family back home. Consider using this technology to practice for interviews,