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!

July 2020

• A veteran at risk of homelessness was working with the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff and received career services including resume development, interviewing skills, and job search techniques. The veteran used those skills to gain employment as a Contract Supervisor earning $50,000.00 annually.
• A service-connected disabled veteran worked with the staff from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and received resume development and job referrals. The veteran was recalled by his employer that had laid him off and accepted an offer as an Event Technician earning $39,520.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was provided career services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran applied for several positions and gained employment as a Picker/Packer earning $30,000.00 annually.
• A low-income veteran received individualized career services that provided numerous career planning techniques and tools to make the veteran job-ready. Using those tools, the veteran was able to secure a position as a Machine Operator making $32,000.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received assistance with job leads; resume development; and information from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and other partner agencies. The veteran applied, interviewed, and accepted an offer as a Security Officer making $26,000.00 per year.
• An at-risk of homeless and low-income veteran was provided services from a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist that included an individual employment plan, resume development, interview preparation, and assistance for referrals resulting in being hire as a Production Worker with metal fabrication company starting at $14.50 hourly with expected pay increase to $15.00 after 90-day probation.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff assisted a low-income veteran with job search, resume, interview guidance, and referral services. The veteran accepted a position as a Production Associate with a wage of $16.50 per hour with full benefits.
• A low-income veteran received employment guidance from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff which lead to the veteran gaining a position with immediate overtime as a forklift operator earning $15 per hour.
• A low-income veteran was provided resume assistance, job leads, job development, and coaching on the interview process from the Office of Veteran Employment Services. The veteran received a job offer earning $50,000.00 per year as a Plumber.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was provided career planning services by the Office of Veteran Employment Services, which led to the veteran returning to and securing a promotion at his former employer as a Manager of Business Improvement with a starting annual salary of $46,000.00 with benefits.
• A veteran with a service-connected disability worked with the staff from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and received resume development, interviewing assistance, and assistance finding jobs. The veteran accepted an offer as a Security Guard earning $18.00 per hour.
• An at-risk of homelessness veteran was provided services from a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist who completed individual employment plan, resume development, interview preparation, and referrals resulting in being hired as a Production Worker with metal fabrication company starting at $14.50 hourly with expected pay increase to $15.00 after 90-day probation.
• A Vietnam-Era Veteran worked with the staff from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and received resume development, interviewing assistance, and assistance finding and applying for jobs. The veteran accepted an offer as a Security Guard earning $14.50 per hour.
• A low-income veteran received employment guidance from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff which supported their effort in gaining a position with immediate overtime as a Forklift Operator earning $15 per hour.
• An at-risk of being homeless veteran was provided resume assistance and coaching on the interview process from the Office of Veteran Employment Services. The veteran received a job offer with a salary of $162,000.00 per year as a senior Project Manager.
• A low-income veteran was provided career planning and resume development services by the Office of Veteran Employment Services, which led to the veteran securing a professional position as a Sourcing Specialist with a starting annual salary of $74,880.00.
• A homeless veteran updated their resume and received suggestions and assistance with job leads and referrals. The veteran interviewed and accepted an offer for a position as an Aircraft Dispatcher earning $56,000.00 annually.
• A special disabled service-connected veteran received assistance with resume development, job searching skill, job development, and interviewing techniques from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. After interviewing and testing with one company, the veteran accepted a position as a Tanker cleaner with an annual salary of $51,000.00.
• A veteran at risk of homelessness updated their resume and received assistance with job referrals. The veteran received an offer as a production engineer with an annual salary of $47,000.00.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was provided career services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services. The veteran applied for several positions and gained employment as a Manger with an annual salary of $45,000.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received assistance with job searching skills, job development, and interviewing techniques from the Office of Veteran Employment Services. The veteran accepted a position as a Claims Specialist, GS7, with an annual salary of $40,000.00 per year.
• A homeless veteran updated their resume and received training, job leads, and referrals. The veteran applied for and accepted a position as Parks Worker with an annual salary of $40,000.00.
• A service-connected disabled veteran graduated from the VA Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation employment program after earning a Master of Social Work program and was referred to a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist. The veteran had little experience in the field other than an internship and with the difficulties of COVID-19, the veteran had trouble finding employment in their field. After intensive services with resume and interview skills, the veteran was able to secure employment as a COVID-19 Contact Tracer earning $20.00 per hour.
• A homeless veteran learned to update their resume and completed a vocational assessment. The veteran received an offer as a Security Officer with an annual salary of $33,000.00.
• A homeless veteran received services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services who provided guidance with resume writing and interviewing. The veteran accepted a Steelworker position with an annual salary of $32,000.00.
• A service-connected disabled veteran who completed the VA Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation program as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) began working with a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist and received a full complement of services including job development over the course of the case management. The veteran has now begun to develop a client base after starting on a very part-time basis with a local rehab facility. The veteran is now earning $19.00/hour while working with 3 clients per week and working part-time as a dispatcher at $14.00/hour with an employer that has allowed the flexibility to work around his other schedule.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff assisted a service-connected disabled veteran in the VA Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation program veteran with job search, resume, interview, and referral services. The veteran recently completed a Machinists Degree. The veteran secured a position as a Machinist Lead on weekend shift with a starting salary of $21.00 per hour with benefits and continued seniority.
• A low-income veteran worked with the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff was provided a full complement of career planning services and gained a professional position as Assistant Solid Waste Manager with a starting salary of $23.53 per hr.
• A service-connected disabled veteran with significant barriers to employment received assistance with their resume, interviewing techniques, housing resources, County Veteran Services Officer referral, and job leads from a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist (DVOP). With the assistance from the DVOP, the veteran was hired as a Mail Processing Technician with a starting wage of $13.00 per hour.
• An at-risk of homeless and low-income veteran, received County Veteran Services Officer referrals, Work Smart referrals, resume development, interviewing skills, job connections, job development, housing assistance information, and introduction to the HUD/VASH program through the VA. The veteran now has stable housing with a reduced rent voucher and secured employment as a Customer Support Specialist with a starting wage of $18.00 an hour.
• A low income, homeless, and previously incarcerated veteran received employment guidance and individualized career services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff which led to the veteran gaining a position as a local trip CDL Driver making approximately $500-$800 per week, weight of cargo considered.
• A service-connected disabled veteran worked with the staff from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and received resume development and job referrals services. The veteran accepted an offer as a Director of Engineers earning $120,000.00 annually.
• A service-connected disabled veteran worked with the staff from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and received resume development and job referrals services. The veteran accepted an offer as a Case Manager making $77,234.00 annually.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was provided career planning services by the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff, which led to the veteran securing a federal position with the Census Bureau earning a salary of $32,000.00 annually.
• A service-connected disabled veteran accepted a position as a Medical Support Specialist earning $22.00 per hour. The veteran received services from the Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist including resume development, job leads, County Veteran Services Officer referrals, and mock interview assistance.
• A service-connected disabled veteran participating in the VA Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation Rapid Access to Employment program received services including job leads, job development, resume development, non-competitive appointment (Wisconsin state employment) registration, and Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs referrals from a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist. The veteran returned to their previous position after being laid off due to COVID-19. The veteran is a Route Sales and Delivery Driver for a local produce company. The veteran will be paid a base salary of $23.00 per hour plus possible commissions.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received employment assistance from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff, allowing the veteran to an administrative position making $19.36 per hour.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received employment guidance from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff, allowing them to secure a position with a local touring transport company as a Driver making $18.50 per hour.
• A low income and homeless veteran received individualized career services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff that created the opportunity for the veteran to gain employment as a Security Guard earning $18.04 per hour.
• A service-connected disabled and low-income veteran was hired as an Operations Manager, for a home building company with a salary of $90,000.00 a year. The veteran received resume development, interview assistance, job referrals, and housing assistance information from the Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist and employer listings and networking from the Local Veteran Employment Representative.
• A homeless veteran learned to revise their resume, interview effectively, and was helped with job leads and referrals. The veteran accepted a position with a metal cutting company as a Warehouse Manager at $60,000.00 annually.
• A low-income veteran received employment guidance, mentoring, and resume review from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff which led to the veteran gaining a position with a local manufacturing company in their call center making $15.00 per hour plus benefits.
• A service-connected disabled veteran who learned to develop a resume and improve their interviewing skills, while working with a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist, found employment as a Security Officer earning $26,520.00 annually.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was provided various services pertaining to employment such as resume assistance, guidance counseling, comprehensive assessment, and an Individual Employment Plan. The veteran accepted an offer of $43,000.00 annually as a HR specialist working remotely.
• A service-connected disabled veteran who completed the VA Vocational Rehabilitation /Chapter 31 program was hired as a Service Facilitator with a starting pay of $25.00 per hour. The veteran received resume development and job leads from a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist.
• A service-connected disabled veteran who completed the VA Vocational Rehabilitation /Chapter 31 program was hired as a Mental Health and Services Case with a starting wage of $23.00 per hour. The veteran received resume development, interview skills, non-compete appointment (Wisconsin state employment) registration, and job leads from Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist.