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!

September 2020

• A homeless veteran was provided services by the Office of Veteran Employment Services. The veteran received guidance on resume development and was provided job leads and referrals. The veteran accepted a laborer position with a construction firm and received an offer for $33,200.00 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 accepted an offer as a Property Inspector earning an annual salary of $34,280.00.
• 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 Heavy Equipment Operator making $46,000.00 per year.
• A low-income veteran worked with the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff who provided the veteran with a full complement of career planning services, which led to the veteran gaining employment as a Technical Writer, earning $52,000.00 per year.
• A transitioning service member worked with a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist after being referred to an American Job Center by their Commanding Officer upon reaching high-year-tenor after 21 years of service. The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff continued to encourage the veteran to apply for positions with an emphasis on company that matched the veterans background, as a shipbuilding contractor, and as a federal contract program manager. LVER's direct intervention in interview prearrangement and follow-up; led to veteran accepting position as a Class Design Services Manager. Veteran will earn $75,000 per year, a $7500 annual bonus, will full benefits and have profit sharing options upon hiring.
• A low-income/ service-connected disabled veteran worked with the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff who provided the veteran with a full complement of career planning services. The veteran gained a professional position as Operations Supervisor, with a starting salary of $25,000 annually.
• A Chapter 31/ low-income veteran was assisted by the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff that provided the veteran with full complement of career planning services. The veteran secured a position as Senior Technical Support Analyst, with a starting salary of $25.00 per hour.
• A homeless and low-income veteran lost their landscaping business due to COVID-19 in May. Now living in a local hotel funded by the Center for Veteran Issues (CVI), the veteran completed an individual employment plan, resume development, received Local Veteran Employment Representative job development services. The Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist facilitated transportation assistance from a veteran service organization. The veteran was hired as a full-time Polishing Machine Operator and will earn $15.00 per hour with full benefits.
• A low-income veteran lost their job due to COVID-19 and had not received unemployment insurance compensation for three months. The veteran completed an individualized employment plan and resume development. The veteran was hired as a full-time Polishing Machine Operator and will earn $15.00 per hour with full benefits.
• A low-income, recently released from incarceration, and homelessness veteran was living at a Veterans Home Reintegration Program (VHRP) facility after accepting court monitored treatment, in-lieu of jail time. The veteran completed an individualized employment plan, resume development. A Local Veteran Employment Representative provided skill marketing services to employers and a Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist facilitated transportation assistance from a veteran service organization. The veteran was hired as a full-time Polishing Machine Operator and will earn $15.00 per hour with full benefits.
• A low-income and at risk of homelessness veteran lost their job due to COVID-19 shortly after relocating for employment from another part of the state. The veteran completed an individual employment plan, resume development, and housing applications with guidance from the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist. The veteran was hired as a full time Industrial Machine Maintenance Technician and will earn $17.00 per hour to start and $24.50 after 45 days probation with full 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 Bilingual Customer Service Representative earning $35,000.00 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 Heavy Equipment Operator/Field Technician making $46,000.00 per year.
• A low-income veteran worked with the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff who provided the veteran with a full complement of career planning services, which led to the veteran gaining employment as a Technical Writer, earning $52,000.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran worked with the staff from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and received resume development, job leads and job development. The veteran accepted an offer as a Shuttle Driver earning $11.35 per hr.
• A homeless, low-income, and single parent veteran lost their job due to COVID-19 and was living in a local hotel. The veteran did not receive unemployment insurance. The veteran completed an individualized employment plan, resume development, received local veteran employment representative job development services, veteran organizational assistance for sustenance and fuel, and housing & new apartment home furnishing assistance. The veteran is moving into their new apartment and accepted a full-time job as a Shipping Clerk & Machine Operating Technician earning $15.50 per hour with full benefits.
• A service-connected disabled, low-income, and at risk of homelessness veteran, lost their job due to COVID-19 and did not receive unemployment insurance compensation for two months. The veteran completed an individualized employment plan, resume development, and was encouraged by a Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist to apply for a new position with a stronger resume to the same employer. The veteran was re-hired as a full time Operations Manager and earn $59,000 per year.
• A low-income and at risk of homelessness veteran lost their job due to COVID-19 and did not receive unemployment insurance compensation for three months. The veteran completed an individualized employment plan, resume development, and local veteran employment representative job development services. The veteran was hired as a full-time IT Infrastructure Manager and will earn $68,000 per year and was awarded a $6,800.00 bonus each year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was hired as a Claims Specialist Supervisor with Social Security at a pay grade of GS-9 level $46,000.00 yearly salary. The veteran received Disabled Veteran Outreach Specialist assistance with job leads, interviewing, resume development and referrals to outside agencies. The Local Veteran Employment Representative provided job leads.
• A service-connected disabled veteran returned to previous employer as a Physician's Assistant, after COVID-19 layoffs. This is a full-time position with a starting pay of $40.00 an hour. The veteran received Disabled Veteran Outreach Specialist assistance with UI registration, resume updating, job leads, and VA referrals.
• A 100% service-connected disabled veteran received employment received guidance, mentoring and resume help several times per week from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist and Local Veteran Employment Representative with thoughtful insights and is now employed as a substitute teacher in Southwest Wisconsin area of Wisconsin, earning $36,000 per year.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff assisted a service-connected disabled veteran with resume, work search, and interview processes. The veteran has accepted employment as a Construction Laborer earning $27.00 per hour with benefits.
• A Vietnam Era veteran worked with the staff from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and received resume development, interviewing assistance and job referrals. The veteran accepted an offer as a Delivery Driver/Counter Salesperson earning $9.50/hr.
• A service-connected disabled veteran who completed the Chapter 31-Veteran Readiness and Employment program was hired as a Financial Accounts Technician with the VA Health Care System at a GS-5 level earning $39,000 yearly. The veteran received Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist assistance with job leads, interviewing, resume development and referrals to outside agencies.
• A homeless veteran was provided career services by the Office of Veteran Employment services. Services included and individual employment plan, resume writing, and tips on job searching. The veteran was also provided numerous job referrals. The veteran accepted a Counselor position with an annual salary of $44,000.00.
• A homeless veteran was provided several individualized career services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff where they learned how to develop a resume and given techniques on how to properly interview. The veteran received numerous job leads and job referrals. The veteran secured a position as a Clerk for local government agency and will earn $38,400.00 annually.
• A homeless veteran was assisted with revising their resume and was given numerous job leads and job referrals by the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran accepted a Laborer position with construction company with annual salary of $33,000.00.
• A low-income veteran worked with the staff from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and received resume development and job referrals. The veteran accepted an offer as a Material Handler/Forklift driver earning $33,300.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received a full complement of career services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and subsequently was hired as an Administrative Assistant. This is a full-time position with a wage of $32,000.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran who was case managed by an Office of Veteran Employment Services team member received career guidance; job referrals; resume creation; and employment search assistance. The veteran applied for and was offered a position as a Cable and Test Assembly Technician earning $40,000.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran, low income and homeless veteran received employment received guidance, mentoring and resume help several times per week from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff and is now employed as a Construction Worker in Janesville at $23.50 per hour.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received career guidance from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff that assisted the veteran in finding employment as a Warehouse Distribution Worker earning $19.20 per hour.
• A veteran at risk of homelessness received assistance with job leads; resume assistance; and job development from the Office of Veteran Employment Services and other partner agencies. The veteran applied, interviewed, and accepted an offer as a Technician 2, earning $50,000.00 per year.
• A homeless veteran learned to revise their resume, received suggestions and assistance with job leads and referrals. The veteran accepted a Production position earning a $33,000.00 annual wage.
• A low-income and at risk of homelessness veteran completed resume develop (federal and chronological) after graduating with bachelor's degree in business management. The veteran accepted a position as a restaurant manager and will earn $19.00 per hour with full benefits.
• A low-income veteran completed career exploration career coaching, and resume development from the Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist. The veteran accepted a position in their new career as a Maintenance Technician. The veteran will earn $16.00 per hour plus commission (approx. $8,000 per year), work full-time, have full benefits.
• A homeless, transitioning, and low-income veteran completed resume development and job development with the Local Veteran Employment Representative. The veteran was hired into a job developed position as a full time Brake Press Operator and will earn $15.50 per hour with full benefits.
• A service-connected disabled veteran, homeless and low income veteran received employment received guidance, mentoring and resume help several times per week from the Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist and Local Veteran Employment Representative and is now employed in the medical device repair industry earning $17.00 per hour.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received employment received guidance, mentoring and resume help several times per week from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist and Local Veteran Employment Representative and has declined all further information as of this report. Per veteran, ” Got a job last week and I will be starting on Wednesday. Thank you for helping me put my resume together." Employer and pay scale not mentioned.