More than 60 Veterans Hired Half-Way through 2016 Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign

October 31, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2016 Campaign Coordinator: Steven Roy, 207-624-5156 Media Contact: Julie Rabinowitz, 207-621-5009

AUGUSTA?Sixty-four veterans in the first 50 days have been hired by employers who have joined the 2016 Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign. The campaign launched on Labor Day and hit the half-way mark on October 24, 2016. The goal of the statewide initiative is to commit at least 100 employers to hire at least 100 veterans within 100 days.

?Veterans bring a wealth of skills, abilities, knowledge and commitment to employers when they transition to civilian life,? said Governor Paul R. LePage. ?Ann and I fully support our veterans and the responsibility we all have to help them transition back to civilian life. Our veterans have given so much to our nation. Maine?s businesses will benefit from adding veterans to their workforce, and veterans will benefit with good-paying careers. Whether you are a veteran or an employer, we urge you to connect with Maine Hire-A-Vet; it?s a win-win for our state.?

Some of the occupations hired include a HR generalist, I.T. specialists, I.T. support and I.T. manager, nursing and paramedic, analysts, customer service, direct support professionals and engineers.

Success Stories

A female army veteran who moved to Maine from Seattle for family reasons was hired by State of Maine?Office of Information Technology. She had been frustrated in her job search of two months but connected with OIT through the Maine Hire-A-Vet kick-off event and job fair this September. The veteran now works in their workforce development division and has a goal of working in cybersecurity in the next few years.

A male army veteran from northern Maine who enlisted on Sept. 9, 2001, served for eight years before separating from the military and returning to the County with his family in 2009. Finding employment was a challenge, as transferring skills as a Tractor Vehicle Mechanic to civilian life wasn?t easy. The veteran opted to go back to school, used his GI Bill and earned a finance degree from UMaine. After being in the banking business for three years, he connected with MMG Insurance's human resources director, also a veteran, during the Maine Hire-A-Vet campaign. He was offered a position and is happy to be able to stay in the County with his family.

Employer Support

The campaign provides support for employers to expand the hiring of veterans, to include a network of state and federal agencies, resources and nonprofits; education on military language and culture; assistance with recruiting, hiring, assimilation and retention; a Veteran Hiring Toolkit and recognition for the hiring and advancement of veterans.

Veterans? employment representatives are available throughout the state through Maine CareerCenters who can visit employers to assist them in finding qualified veterans and provide information on the benefits of hiring veterans. Employers or veterans can contact campaign coordinator, Steven Roy, at 207-624-5156 or MaineHireAVet.DOL@maine.gov for more information, or visit http://www.mainecareercenter.gov/hireavet.shtml .

The campaign focuses on jobs paying at least a wage of $12 per hour, but all employers with jobs at all pay levels are welcome. Participating employers are not required to hire veterans they interview in order to participate in the campaign.

Follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter: #MaineHireAVet.

The Maine Department of Labor and its CareerCenters, Easter Seals, Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve, Hero2Hired, Live and Work in Maine, Veterans Inc., VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, VA Office of Rural Health, Transition Assistance Advisors, and the Maine Bureau of Veterans Services are co-sponsoring this campaign. All partners will be focused on recruiting both veterans and employers.

Maine CareerCenters are equal opportunity providers. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.

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