The state’s veteran business organization to provide businesses with resources to hire and retain veteran employees.
The Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday a series of new programs available to Wisconsin employers to support their efforts to recruit, hire, and retain military veteran employees. The announcement was made during the organization’s inaugural Veterans in the Workforce Summit, an event bringing together veteran friendly employers, hiring professionals, and resource organizations serving veterans to discuss best practices of veteran-friendly businesses in Wisconsin.
The Veterans Chamber announced the launch of the Veteran Young Professionals Resource Group, a professional leadership program, and their strategic partnership with veteran owned and operated RecruitMilitary, the nation’s leading veteran hiring solutions company.
“Wisconsin employers are looking to hire military veterans because they recognize veterans are an investment in their business,” said Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Saul Newton.
Following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 2.5 million veterans have transitioned to civilian life, and over 1 million more will do so over the next five years. A recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report found that the veteran unemployment rate is lower than the overall unemployment rate, making veterans one of the most highly sought after sources of talent for employers. While a wide array of resources are available to assist employers in leveraging this talent source, many employers face challenges in hiring and retaining veteran employees. According to a 2013 study by CEB Corporate Leadership Council, only 7% of HR executives at Fortune 500 companies said they were satisfied with their veteran hiring program.
In order to meet the needs of Wisconsin’s veteran-friendly employers, the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce is offering new programs and services to connect veteran job seekers with businesses looking to hire veterans.
Members of the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce will receive a discount on RecruitMilitary’s jobs board and database subscription products, providing Wisconsin employers access to the nation’s largest single-source veteran database with over 800,000 members.
The Veterans Chamber also announced the launch of the groundbreaking Veteran Young Professionals Resource Group, the first young professionals group in Wisconsin dedicated to serving military veterans. The group will connect student veterans and young veteran professionals with Wisconsin’s veteran business community and veteran friendly employers through networking opportunities, professional development, and community support.
The launch of the Veteran Young Professionals Resource Group is paired with the creation of the Veterans Professional Leadership Program, a nine-month program serving student veterans and young veteran professionals by offering professional and career development events to assist with their transition from military service to professional careers. Participants will learn resume preparation and interview techniques, professional communication and networking skills, and other career development skills.
Newton concluded, “The Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce is proud to provide these resources to Wisconsin’s business community to make Wisconsin a national leader in hiring and retaining veteran talent in our workforce.”
Applications for the Veteran Professional Leadership Program open Wednesday, September 7 and close on October 4, 2016. More information on employment resources is available at wiveteranschamber.org.
