Welcome to the Veterans’ Employment Services (VES) Newsletter. Our mission is to assist you and your family secure meaningful careers in Michigan.

The concept of veterans helping veterans is a trademark of the VES team and one of the keys to its success. Veterans face many challenges when transitioning out of the military – finding meaningful employment should not be one of them.

• Veterans in need of employment assistance should contact the nearest Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center by calling 800-285-WORKS (9675) or visiting MichiganWorks.org.
• More information about Veterans’ Employment Services is available at Michigan.gov/VES.
• Register today and start your job search at Pure Michigan Talent Connect at MiTalent.org.

On October 4, 2022, Military veterans are invited to the Pistons Rally Point event where they can interact with corporate resources, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Throughout the day, governmental and non-profit agencies will be providing information about benefits and resources for all attendees. The information they provide will benefit the families by enhancing their access to career, economic, health, and benefit resources.

Free haircuts, clothing, and other giveaway items will be provided. Additionally, the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center will provide COVID vaccinations and booster shots to all veterans, as well as expungement services via the Clean Slate program. Register for the free event at Pistons.com/RallyPoint. 

If you’re looking for in-person support to help you on your job seeking journey, stop by your local Michigan Works! Service Center, a proud partner of the American Job Center.

Local service centers offer a variety of resources including resume assistance, interview coaching, job search guidance, training opportunities, and for certain qualified individuals, assistance paying for job-related costs.

Find your local Michigan Works! Service Center at MichiganWorks.org or by calling 1-800-285-WORKS

Arron Lindholm – Veterans' Career Advisor, Marquette

How has your military experience helped you in your position as a VCA?

My military experience helps me make a connection with veterans from the very first meeting. Shared military experiences helps us build rapport, ease tensions and makes relationship building easier during the case management process.

What should veterans expect when they meet with a VCA?

When a veteran meets with a VCA they should expect three things: First they will be listened to. VCAs do an excellent job at actively listening to veterans in order to determine their needs and find out more about their individual circumstance. 

Secondly, they will be afforded help and resources. Even if a veteran doesn’t end up in case management, they will be offered help, referrals and resources that will benefit their situation. 

Thirdly, veterans can expect to get the highest quality service and individualized attention should they enter case management with a VCA. VCAs are expert case managers and will assist veterans in overcoming any and all types of barriers.

What resource do you recommend for veterans seeking employment? 

The first and best resource I recommend for all veterans is the Michigan Works! network. VES partners with Michigan Works! in many different areas and there are dozens of resources available for veterans through this partnership. Maintaining a great working relationship with Michigan Works! and VES is a solid way for veterans to accomplish their goals.

Scholarships for the new Google Career Certificates are now available, and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Employment and Training is excited to help bring these scholarships to our state.

The Google Career Certificate program can help you get on the fast track to a competitively paid job in a high-growth field. You don’t need relevant experience or a degree to complete this flexible, online job training. Just put the skills, passion, and ambition you already have to work.

• Explore what the program has to offer at grow.google/certificates. Learn more about how the Google Career Certificates work to put you on the path to in-demand jobs.
• Learn how you can earn a Google Career Certificate for free by contacting your local Michigan Works! office at MichiganWorks.org.

Designed by Google, this self-paced, online training program can prepare you for careers in the high-growth fields of project management, user experience (UX) design, data analytics, and IT support. And with under 10 hours spent studying a week, you can be prepped for a new career in under six months. Once you graduate from the Google Career Certificate program, you can connect directly with over 150 top U.S. employers to jump-start your job search.

There are over 1.27 million job openings across Certificate fields and the demand is growing. Earn a credential and stand out to employers with a Google Career Certificate.

Since 1928, the Upper Peninsula State Fair has provided a place for folks from across the nation to experience and celebrate the unique culture and heritage of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Fair remains as unique and wonderful as the people and places found across this marvelous peninsula.

Veterans’ Employment Representatives were onsite to connect with veterans and employers to promote the Veterans’ Employment Services program, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s Veteran Friendly Employer Certification program, and the Hire Vets Medallion program. Employers welcomed the information provided on the various programs that recognized companies that employed veterans.

In addition, VES staff were able to connect with local, county, and federal veteran resources such as Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress, Reserve Component Transition Assistant Advisor, Veteran Service Officer, Veteran Community Action Team, and Veteran Affairs. These partnerships will help VES staff continue providing the best service for Michigan veterans.

Navy veteran William Wonnacott stopped by his local Michigan Works! Service Center in May looking for help finding a full-time job where he could utilize his extensive experience in material handling and forklift operation.

Michigan Works! staff referred William to Veteran Career Advisor (VCA) William Mourufas, who used a comprehensive assessment that helped identify barriers to employment and established an action plan to overcome those barriers.

Veteran Employment Services maintains close relationships with local employers to place an emphasis on locating better jobs and supporting small businesses. These connections with employers continuously prove valuable in assisting veterans to accomplish their employment goals.

One of those relationships is with Superior Fabrication in Kinross, Michigan, a company that prides itself on hiring veteran talent. After reaching out to the employer, VES staff discovered there was an opening for an experienced material handler. VCA Mourufas then helped William update and tailor his resume and apply for the position. 

VCA Mourufas also provided a referral to Local Veteran Employment Representative (LVER) Kendal Kettle for additional assistance advocating for William to the employer. Within hours of submitting the application and advocating to the Human Resources department on behalf of the veteran, William received an invitation for an interview!

In the days leading up to his interview, VCA Mourufas worked with William to sharpen his interview skills. And the work paid off. William was offered the position during the interview and began working full-time making $17.50 per hour, with room to grow.

William is very satisfied with his employment and efforts of VES staff to protect and enhance his health, safety and economic security. Additionally, Superior Fabrication is thrilled to continue their dedication to veterans by growing their team with new veteran talent. VES looks forward to continuing relationships with Superior Fabrication and other local businesses that have a commitment to serving those who served.

"The PACT Act is a historic new law that will help [the Veterans Affairs] deliver for millions of veterans — and their survivors — by empowering us to presumptively provide care and benefits to vets suffering from more than 20 toxic exposure-related conditions," said Veterans Affairs Secretary Dennis McDonough. "It will also bring generations of veterans into VA healthcare, which will improve veteran health outcomes across the board." 

If you think you might be eligible for PACT Act benefits, get started by filing a claim at the VA. All 23 presumptive conditions in the PACT Act are eligible for benefits effective August 10. You can learn more about the PACT Act by visiting VA.gov/PACT or calling 1-800-MY-VA-411.