VEC Visits Holloman

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. E'Lysia A. Wray
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Hero to Hired, a part of the Veterans Employment Center, visited Holloman Air Force Base March 18, in the Exchange parking lot from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The VEC is the federal government's single authoritative internet source for connecting transitioning service members, veterans and their families to meaningful career opportunities. The VEC is the first government-wide product that brings together a reputable group of public and private employers with real job opportunities. They provide transitioning service members, veterans and their families with the tools to translate their military skills into plain language. Service members build profiles that can be shared with employers who have made a public commitment to hire veterans.

The VEC is the result of collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Defense Department under the Joining Forces initiative created by Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden.

The VA, Labor, Defense and Education, the Small Business Administration and the Office of Personnel Management, collaborated to design and develop the VEC to incorporate the best features of existing online employment tools.

"You can do a specific job search on ebenefits.va.org, which will tell you which jobs are located where," said Maj. Todd Kontny, New Mexico Employer Support of Guard and Reserve Liaison and Employment Coordinator. "The skills translator option is where you put in your specialty code and it will convert it over to the civilian equivalent. You can cut and paste that verbiage straight into your resume."

The VEC also allows employers to search resumes of veterans with certain skill sets, which best fit their organizational needs.

"Have the employer find you, instead of you going to find them," said Kontny.

Resumes are only visible to employers with a LinkedIn or Google profile. Applicant's name and e-mail addresses are censored and only visible to verified VA employers who are registered companies with the IRS.

"Ebenefits is a great website created to make the transition to civilian life easier and to make the service member feel secure in knowing there are options out there for them," said Kontny.

Service members and their spouses transitioning to civilian life are being offered resources needed to be successful. The VEC along with the Department of Labor and its 2,500 American Job Centers, are connecting veterans and service members with both public and private sector employers interested in hiring those with military experience.

"For any other questions, please visit https://www.ebenefits.va.gov," said Kontny. "They offer a live chat for those needing any assistance with navigating the website. A list of numbers and contact options are available so no matter where you are or what you need, there is a way for you to get the answers you need."