There’s a bit more to hiring veterans than Washington Mayor Archie Jennings signing a document proclaiming March 20 as National Hire a Veteran Day locally.
Jennings signed such a proclamation Monday at the request of Jerry Cobb, a veterans employment consultant in Beaufort County.
Cobb wants veterans to be aware of a virtual career fair set for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. March 20. To participate in the career fair, veterans should register at www.vetcareerfair.com.
“Finding a job after serving in the military can often be quite challenging, and knowing where to find the jobs can often be one of the biggest hurdles. We can help you connect live with employers even before you leave the service by utilizing our virtual career fair,” reads a flier about the event. “Whether you are deployed to Afghanistan, or a veteran who has been out of the service for 30 years, you will benefit from registering and attending.”
“As of the beginning of the new fiscal year July 2012, 60 new veterans have applied or reapplied for employment services, 38 veterans have been referred to jobs in which they were qualified, eight veterans obtained employment and 115 veterans were assisted by job development (contacting the employer and making them aware of the skill the veteran had that could possibly be used in their company),” Cobb wrote in an email concerning Beaufort County veterans seeking jobs. “There are 179 veterans in Beaufort County registered with (N.C.) Division of Workforce Solutions for work and other available services. Veterans have shown that they can be counted on to report for work as required and perform their assigned tasks to standard as evident with their honorable discharges.”
There are several job-assistance programs for veterans.
The Veterans Retraining Assistance Program offers 12 months of training assistance to veterans (between the ages of 35 and 60) equal to the full-time Montgomery GI Bill at the active-duty rate, which is currently $1,564 per month. The money is paid to the veteran, who in turn pays the school for tuition, fees and books. To qualify, a veteran must be unemployed and meet certain criteria.
For more information about job-assistance programs for veterans, contact Jerry Cobb at 252-946-2141.