Job Help For Veterans - 8 News NOW

Job Help For Veterans

The number of vets who are unemployed right now is skyrocketing. In April, the unemployment rate for vets who served since 2001 was 9.2%. In May, it jumped to 12.7%. So why aren't vets getting hired? A study shows some employers have concerns about hiring them. They fear they may suffer from PTSD or have other trauma issues.

When the Department of Defense found out about this they came up with some ways you can better market yourself to get the next job for which you apply.

On your resume and cover letter, stress the following.

1) You're Adaptable. Tell them how you had to adapt in combat and why that would make you an asset to their team.

2) Mention Your Character. Talk about your work ethic and give examples from your service to our country.

3) Talk About Teamwork. While serving you worked as a team with your fellow servicemen and women. Tell them how you learned to work as a team effectively and how you helped to lead and inspire your team and/or fellow servicemen.

For more information about this study and even more tips go here: http://www.cnas.org/node/8373

If you're unemployed and need help, consider signing up for the federal Veterans Retraining Assistance Program. It is part of the Hire Our Heroes Act of 2011.

45,000 veterans can participate each fiscal year. The program gives vets training for in demand jobs and pays up to $1400 a month.

To qualify, veterans must:

• Be 35 to 60 years old, unemployed on the day of application, and have been issued discharges under conditions other than dishonorable;

• Be enrolled in education or training after July 1, 2012, in a VA-approved program of education offered by a community college or technical school leading to an associate degree, non-college degree or a certificate for a high-demand occupation as defined by the Department of Labor;

• Not be eligible for any other VA education benefit, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Montgomery GI Bill, or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment;

• Not have participated in a federal or state job training program within the last 180 days; and

• Not receive VA compensation at the 100 percent rate.

To learn more about the VRAP program, call 1- 800-827-1000.