Companies that do business with the federal government employ a big chunk of the U.S. workforce – and if you’re a veteran looking to join their ranks, federal law requires that they give you a leg up.How can you take advantage?
The local One-Stop Career Center should be one of your first stops, according to government and private-sector officials.
Thousands of these Labor Department offices, also called American Job Centers, are scattered across the country, offering information and job openings posted online at www.careeronestop.org.
Big federal contractors must list their available positions with the centers, which establish relationships with local contractors and even offer training and intensive one-on-one help for vets who are having trouble landing jobs.
In addition, your vet status gets you first access to many of the available services and programs.
“Every veteran gets priority of service in an American Job Center,” said Teresa Gerton, deputy assistant secretary for policy at the Labor Department. “There’s a tremendous amount of support for veterans available for free.”
