On May 2, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Veterans’ Employment and Training Service launched a one-stop online resource for employment services for veterans. The new website, Veterans.gov, brings together job banks, state employment offices, American Job Centers, opportunities in top-trending industry sectors, and employer assistance in a single online location. The new site, which the DOL announced in a press release, is designed to be a valuable resource for veterans, transitioning service members, and their spouses and for employers seeking to hire veterans and their spouses.
The website is readable and easy to use. By consolidating information from many sources, it gives veterans and employers a convenient starting point for finding a job, starting a business, or hiring a veteran. A bright red “Find a Job” button quickly takes job seekers to multiple training resources and to a veterans job bank or national labor exchange online job listings, offers one-on-one assistance in American Job Centers nationwide, and provides career resources searchable by industry, keyword, or similarity to military careers. Similarly, the “Hire Veterans” button gives employers access to a free hiring tool kit offering step-by-step guidance for hiring veterans.
Other employer resources include one-on-one assistance by regional employer outreach specialists and the ability to make a commitment to hire a veteran and to upload available openings and job descriptions to job banks directed at veterans. The site also provides information on how to become an entrepreneur and to start a business.
