|
|
This month we celebrate the 79th anniversary of the GI Bill® and its invaluable impact on the lives of Veterans, Service members and their families. What began as an initiative to provide benefits for Service members returning from World War II has evolved since it was established June 22, 1944, now offering benefits through an array of education and training programs, scholarships and resources.
Through VET TEC, we are able to provide the opportunity for you to pursue education and training to develop the skills and knowledge needed to find meaningful employment in the high-tech industry and succeed in a rapidly changing economy. This year, we continue to celebrate the evolution of education benefits and are thankful for the opportunity to continue our longstanding tradition of serving you.
As you get ready to dive into your job search this summer, make sure to utilize these key resources to help you get that perfect job!
We hope that you find this edition of the VET TEC Newsletter helpful and informative. If so, be sure to share it with others in the VET TEC community or those who may be interested in joining – either as a student, employer partner or training provider. To share, simply forward this email.
|
|
|
Important update: VET TEC funding is running out
The VET TEC program is subject to an annual $45 million budget cap. Due to the popularity of the program; funding is running out for fiscal year (FY) 2023. Funding is based on a first come, first serve basis.
Are you currently enrolled in an approved program and in receipt of a VET TEC award letter? If this is you, your training will continue uninterrupted., As long as there are no changes to your start date or current training program, your training will continue to be funded and uninterrupted.
Are you currently enrolled in an approved program but you have not yet received a VET TEC award letter? If this is you, you will need to await an award letter prior to beginning your training. If funds exhaust, you will have to wait until FY24 funds become available on October 1, 2023 before you can begin training.
For questions regarding the VET TEC program, please email the VET TEC team at VETTEC.VBABUF@va.gov.
|
|
|
|
IBM SkillsBuild Cohort update – registration closed!
Registration for the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) first IBM SkillsBuild cohorts has closed.
The Cybersecurity Analytics cohort pre-training project kicked off Tuesday, May 30, 2023 with over 125+ participants!
The formal 16-week professional certificate training for both tracks, Cybersecurity Analytics and Data Analytics, will begin Monday, June 19, 2023.
Not sure about your status? Be on the lookout for email updates from VA. There will be additional opportunities for you to apply and participate in future chorts. As more information becomes available on future opportunities for this training, you’ll be updated.
Have questions? Send an email to the VET TEC team at vettecpartner@va.gov.
|
|
|
|
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Career Fair
Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) is hosting the Hiring America’s Best Hybrid Career Fair on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The virtual event will be nationwide and take place from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET. There will also be four in-person events in the following locations: Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix and Washington, DC. The in-person events will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., local time.
This national event is open to all Veterans, active-duty Service members, transitioning Service members, and military spouses. This event will feature dozens of top federal, private and non-profit employers who are hiring for well-paying positions around the country.
Once a job seeker has registered for the event, the job seeker must create an account and upload their resume. Register here.
|
|
|
|
Wellness Wednesday Financial Education Series
In partnership with VA and Prudential Financial, Outreach, Transition and Economic Development (OTED) offers transitioning Serve members, Veterans, spouses, their family members and caregivers the opportunity to participate in the Wellness Wednesday Financial Education Series.
The series is focused on addressing financial literacy gaps across the military and Veteran community. The series is comprised of two programs, an online website portal which contains a roster of financial literacy information and resources, and the Wellness Wednesday Financial Education Series offered the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
Wellness Wednesday seminars are conducted live, offered at no cost and offer the opportunity to speak directly to a qualified financial counselor. For more information on upcoming webinars and registration, click here.
|
|
|
|
Be prepared for a faster application and hiring process
VA will soon be able to expedite application processing time for some positions, increasing the chance of onboarding you to start working at VA faster. With a shorter window, you need to be ready when that job announcement opens. Here are actions to take now so that you can get your application submitted quickly.
-
Frame your resume. Have the basic framework of your resume ready. Outline your education, previous work history, certifications and awards. This allows you time to customize the fine details, like describing your skills and experience using keywords form the job description without having to create a resume from scratch.
-
Outline your cover letter. You’ll need to customize parts of your cover letter for the position of interest but there are parts you can write ahead of time. Outline your qualifications that make you a unique candidate for the position.
-
Update your references. Take time to review your reference list now, ensuring you have current contact information listed for people who can vouch for you.
-
Gather your paperwork. Have any documentation that supports your education, certification and job history together and easily accessible to quickly add to your application package.
For more job application tips, click here.
|
|
|
|
Career events with Hiring Our Heroes
Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) is hosting virtual employment events this month, focused helping you perfect your resume and connect to available job opportunities in various career fields.
Interview Skills Interactive Workshop
June 8, 2023 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Need help with preparing for an interview? Participate in this virtual interactive workshop to learn techniques to help you prepare, execute and follow up with employers during the interview process. Following the presentation, you may participate in mock interviews with volunteers from HOH’s partner companies. Don’t miss out, registration is limited! For more information, including registration, click here.
Hiring Our Heroes Career Forward Information Session
June 12, 2023 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
Are you, your spouse or others you know in the Veteran community interested in a career in tech? Career Forward is a learner-to-earner program designed to help you level up your career for free, providing access to Google Career Certificates. Veterans, transitioning Service members, military spouses and military caregivers are eligible to participate in Career Forward and no prior education or experience is required to enroll. For more information, including registration, click here.
For more information on upcoming events, visit HOH online to learn more.
|
|
|
|
Free online course for Veteran entrepreneurs
Warrior Rising is dedicated to providing Veterans opportunities to create sustainable businesses. This free Service-Disabled Veteran Entrepreneurs program includes four weeks of web-based instruction focused on entrepreneurship, followed by participation in other programs offered by Warrior Rising such as virtual-live coaching and mentoring sessions.
The next course begins June 7, 2023, with an application deadline of 6 p.m. ET on June 5, 2023. For more information on this upcoming training and additional programs offered through Warrior Rising, click here.
|
|
|
|
Opportunities for students and new graduates at VA
VA is committed to helping VET TEC graduates find meaningful employment, offering support in the early stages of your career through training as well as assistance with getting employment and paying off debts. To learn more about pathways, internship, recruitment and experience programs designed to help students and new graduates build on their education and work experience, click here.
A career at VA offers you an opportunity to use the education obtained with your GI Bill benefits to serve Veterans and their families. Review these current jobs for students and new graduates with VA.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming VET TEC Employer Consortium Events
Do you have resources to offer to VET TEC participants to assist them with their journey to find meaningful employment? Are you looking for highly skilled Veterans or service members to fill open job positions? If yes, volunteer to host an Employment Consortium event! Email the VET TEC team for more information and to express your interest in doing an event with VA.
|
|
|
ATTENTION: Did you submit your employment hiring data for quarter two of fiscal 2023. As a reminder this information is past due. If you have a question about how to submit or need assistance, we can help you! Please reach out to the VET TEC team today!
In addition to reporting the metrics, we hope that you will help us in telling the success stories of VET TEC graduates. We invite you to share with us the names and email addresses of the Veterans that you have hired for a possible future feature. We want to share their VET TEC success story and highlight your organization’s commitment to helping our Veterans find meaningful employment with the rest of the VET TEC community.
If you have a question about how to submit or need help, we can help you! Please email vettecpartner@va.gov to request assistance, today!
|
|
 |
|
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Benefits Administration
|
Do you have a question or concern about GI Bill benefits? Contact us safely and securely with Ask VA! |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
