Veteran Employment Success Stories

Every month the Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES) will be sharing stories of individuals that have successfully found careers through our services. Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Representative (DVOP) provide the intensive services necessary to meet the employment needs of Veterans who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, disabled, homeless, or facing other significant barriers to employment. Visit often to see how Wisconsin is putting our Veterans back to work!

January 2019

• A service-connected disabled veteran connected with the Office of Veteran Employment Services and received resume development and job referral assistance. The veteran was offered and accepted a Dental Office Support position due to previous work experience and education. This position starts with an annual salary of $50,000.00.
• A veteran who worked to overcome homelessness with assistance from the Center for Veteran Issues, connected with the Office of Veteran Employment Services needing assistance with resume development and connecting with employers and employment opportunities. Office of Veteran Employment Staff helped the veteran highlight prior work experience and education on his/her resume and in interviews. This assistance helped lead to an employment offer of Material Handler starting at $16.00 per hour.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was provided life coaching; mock interview practice; and resume development services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. After applying for numerous positions and receiving many interviews, the veteran gained employment as a Shift Manager with a starting wage of $40,000.00 per year.
• A veteran completing a Department of Veterans Affairs funded education program gained employment as a Housekeeper starting at $15.14 per hour. The veteran received staff assisted resume development that highlighted prior work experience and education, and job referrals directly in line with the veteran's interests.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received assistance with job leads; career counseling; and other services from Office of Veteran Employment Staff. The veteran secured a position as a Production Supervisor with a starting salary of $60,000.00 per year based on prior work experience.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received assistance with resume development; interviewing skill practice; and job leads from Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran secured a position as a Veterans Services Manager with a starting salary of $61,000.00 per year.
• A low-income veteran who received intensive services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff acquired a position as a Dispatcher earning $18.00 per hour. Staff provided resume development to help highlight prior work experience and job referrals relating to the veteran's career interests.
• A transitioning service member received assistance with job leads; resume development; and career counseling from Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran secured a position as a Maintenance Supervisor with a starting salary of $80,000.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran, unsure of which career path to take, was assisted by Office of Veteran Employment Services staff to find part time employment while the veteran was enrolled in a technical college and subsequently a University of Wisconsin college to complete his/her Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement. Office of Veteran Employment Services Staff assisted veteran in completing a Career Cruising assessment and assisted in resume development for federal, non-federal, and correctional institution law enforcement positions. The veteran interviewed for eight law enforcement positions and accepted a Customs Agent position starting at $61,000.00 per year.
• A 50% service-connected disabled veteran was provided additional assistance on his resume development and coaching on the interview process from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran received several interviews and a job offer as a Project Controls Engineer earning $80,000.00 per year.
• A homeless veteran, with the assistance from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff, learned to write an effective resume; conduct job searches; and received guidance on interviewing skills. The veteran completed assembly work training and accepted an offer as an Assembler earning $38,000.00 annually.
• A service-connected disabled veteran in the Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation program was provided services including: initial assessment; career guidance; job referrals; resume creation; case management; and job search and placement from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran found employment as a Social Service Assistant earning $16.50 per hour.
• A Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation program veteran received assistance on resume development; job searching techniques; and job leads from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran completed multiple interviews and was offered a Director of Nursing position and will begin employment on January 28, 2019, earning $72,900.00 annually.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES) staff and a low-income veteran developed an IEP that included: resume development; 6-weeks of highway construction training for Operating Engineers; and completion of an 8-week CDL Certification Course. OVES staff assisted the veteran in completing the application for the WI GI Bill and the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs Veterans Retraining Grant for $3,000.00 which the veteran was awarded. The veteran was hired as a full-time local CDL "A" Driver, earning $51,000.00 yr. salary; a $1000 sign-on bonus; profit sharing; and full-medical and dental package.
• A recently released incarcerated veteran worked with the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff who provided the veteran with an initial assessment; career guidance; job referrals; resume creation; case management; and job search and placement. The veteran used those services to find employment as a Training Coordinator, earning $15.00 per hour.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was accepted into the GE Healthcare Leadership program which is out of Waukesha/Wauwatosa and is a 2-year rotational program. The veteran can customize which 3 departments he wants to work in for eight months at a time. After the two years, the veteran will transition into a full-time leadership role in one of the three departments.