Employment Resources
The information and links on this page will provide you information about access to employment resources that will assist you accessing training and employment resources that will enable you to achieve your employment goals. The Employ Florida web site can be a valuable tool for you in recruiting highly trained and motivated Veterans in your community. In fact, employers registered in EF can designate that they are veteran-friendly, making it easier for veterans to find them. The Career Center can be a very cost effective and valuable resource and partner in meeting your employment needs. Click here to register, create a resume or apply for jobs.
Locate a Career Center
Workforce services are delivered through the network of Career Centers located in the 24 Regional Workforce Board areas. The staff in the Career Centers can assist you with numerous employment related programs that include, but are not limited to: transferring your military occupation to civilian occupations based on your skill set; conducting job searches for results; information about employment prospects, employers, and more for your region of the state; building an effect resume; and access to training and education programs; special services for Veterans; and more.
Florida's Career Centers are staffed with a network of professional Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialists and Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER) staff who are tasked to provide priority workforce services to veteran customers.
Find the Career Center nearest you.
On November 21, 2011, President Obama signed the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011 into law which established new programs for seamless transitions of Service members into civilian life, expansion of education and training opportunities for Veterans and provides tax credits for employers who hire Veterans with service-connected disabilities. For additional information go to: http://benefits.va.gov/vow/index.htm
Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP)
As part of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) offers up to 12 months of training assistance to unemployed veterans who meet the following criteria:
- Are at least 35 but no more than 60 years old
- Are unemployed on the date of application
- Received an other than dishonorable discharge
- Are not eligible for any other VA education benefit program (e.g.: the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Assistance)
- Are not in receipt of VA compensation due to unemployability
- Are not enrolled in a federal or state job training program
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are working together to roll out this new program on July 1, 2012. Applications are now being accepted for the program and information can be found at: http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm
Veterans' Preference in Services: An Overview
Priority of service means the right of eligible veterans and covered persons to take precedence over eligible non-covered persons for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services provided under new or existing qualified job training programs, furthermore; the eligible veterans or covered persons shall receive access to the service or resources earlier in time than the non-covered person. If the service or resource is limited, the veteran or covered persons receives access to the service or resource instead of or before the non-covered person. See your local veterans' representative for more information about this entitlement.
Veterans' Preference in Employment and the State of Florida
Florida law defines requirements for public employers to accord preferences, in appointment, retention, and promotion, to certain veterans and spouses of veterans who are Florida residents. The relevant portions of the law apply to the state and its political subdivisions. Public utilities, state universities, school districts, and special taxing districts are subject to the requirements of Chapter 295. Click here to learn more.
Employ Florida
The Employ Florida (EF) is the State of Florida's official jobs website. One of the biggest values to jobseekers is that it combines jobs from thousands of website in one easy job search. EF job search results include jobs of particular interest to veterans from:
USAJOBS
USAJOBS is the official job site for the U.S. Federal Government. It's your one stop source for Federal jobs and employment information.
People First!
People First is the source for those seeking a career in Public Service in Florida State Government.
Creating a Resume and Finding a Civilian Job
The transition from the Military to civilian life and suddenly looking for employment again can be stressful and at times overwhelming. The first step is often to define what type of a civilian job you are seeking and the second is to prepare a resume that will motivate an employer to interview you. The EF website has resources that will directly assist you. Click here to learn about assessing or mapping your military skills.
Click here for 10 tips to finding a job, including creating a resume (you will need to log to view this page).
Job Fairs
If you are not into websites and prefer to meet the people who represent the companies you are interested in, job fairs might be your answer. But just as you are meeting the employer, they are meeting you. Make sure that you have a prepared resume and are dressed accordingly. You might be asking how is it possible to prepare a resume as discussed earlier in that it is targeted for a specific job when there will be so many employers with so many different job opportunities. The answer is preparation. Most job fairs will announce ahead of time a list of the employers and the positions they have open. By tweaking each resume to fit the jobs you are interested in you will be able to present yourselves in a positive light as being someone who is not only interested, prepared but a self-starter.
For information about local job fairs check local papers, contact your local Career Center or visit the job fairs link on www.floridajobs.org.
Apprenticeship Opportunities