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!

February 2019

• A low-income veteran worked with the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff who provided the veteran with initial assessment; career guidance; job referrals; resume creation; case management; and job search and placement services. The veteran gained employment as a Purchasing Manager earning $90,000.00 per year.
• A 50% service-connected disabled veteran was provided interview coaching; participation in mock interviewing; and resume development. The veteran interviewed with three companies and accepted a position as an Electrical Engineer earning $80,000.00 a year.
• A Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation program veteran received intensive career services while working with the Office of Veteran Employment Services and Job Corps staff. The veteran gained employment as a Residential Aide earning $58,000.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received assistance with resume development and job leads from Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran secured a position as a Conveyor Technician with a starting wage of $20.00 per hour.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff provided job leads and job development services to a Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation program veteran who gained employment as a Courier Driver earning $18.00 per hour.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff provided referral to job boards; job referral; and resume development services to a disabled serviced-connected veteran who gained employment earning $38.00 per hour with partial rights to the company and company partnership.
• A low-income veteran whose hours were reduced from full-time to part-time and was in facing potential homeless sought assistance from the Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES). The veteran was provided ongoing case management including initial comprehensive assessment; resume development; interview coaching; mock interviewing; and job referrals. With the ongoing assistance and guidance from OVES staff, the veteran interviewed and accepted a full-time position as a Customer Service Representative earning $16.00 per hour.
• A service-connected disabled veteran gained employment as a substitute teacher earing $100.00 per day. The veteran gained this position with the assistance of the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff using various career and intensive services.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received employment and supportive services by both the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Office of Veteran Employment staff. Staff provided resume development to highlight prior work experience and job referrals relevant to that experience. The veteran interviewed and was offered and accepted a Call Center Representative position starting at $19.00 per hour.
• A 100% service-connected disabled veteran with an offender background who is currently attending school, had an interest in finding employment that was flexible to a school schedule. The veteran was provided full service, intensive career planning from the Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES) staff. The OVES team shared the veteran's resume with an employer who interviewed him and offered him a job on the spot for a second shift position! The veteran's starting wage is $17.97 per hour for training. After the initial training period, the veteran will earn $18.47 per hour with full time/benefits.
• A service-connected veteran worked with the local Office of Veteran Employment Services staff who provided the veteran with initial assessment; career guidance; job referrals; resume development; case management; and job search and placement services. The veteran gained employment earning $15.50 per hour as a Training Specialist.
• A veteran who was at risk of being homeless and the veteran's spouse, who is unable to work, sought the services of the Office of Veteran Employment Services team. The team assisted the veteran with resources to support their basic needs, such as gas, food, and rental assistance via partnering agencies. The veteran was provided several positions to apply for upon completing a resume. The LVER also skill-matched the veteran for a position with an area employer. The veteran interviewed and was hired immediately as a Removal Specialist. The veteran is earning $14.00 per hour.
• A low-income veteran was provided career planning services that consisted of resume development; job coaching; and interview preparation from the Office of Veteran Employment Services team. The veteran received several interviews and was offered a position as an Installation Technician earning $88,630.00 per year.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received assistance with federal resume development and encouragement from the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran secured a position as a Supply Technician earning $45,000.00 annually effective February of 2019; which was an increase from the previous position's earnings of $30,100 annually.
• A service-connected veteran was provided additional help with resume development; job searches; and interviewing and soft skill tips from the Office of Veteran Employment Services team. The veteran received several interviews and ultimately was offered a position earning $38,762.00 per year as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant. The veteran's goal is to obtain an RN License. The veteran's license expired over 10 years ago, and this job is the first step on the veteran's career pathway.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff provided assistance on resume development and interview process coaching for a 100% service-connected veteran. The veteran is happy to be working as an Independent Livery Driver earning $31,200.00 per year. The veteran was very thankful for the help received.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was provided various intensive services to assist with the veteran's search for employment. The Office of Veteran Employment Staff assisted the veteran with resume development and interview techniques. After applying and interviewing for available positions, the veteran was offered and accepted a position as a Network Analyst earning $35,439 annually.
• A homeless veteran overcame significant barriers to employment while working with the Center for Veteran Issues (CVI) and the Office of Veteran Employment Services. The veteran worked through the career planning process and was provided intensives career services to gain employment and began working as a Motivational Speaker and Artist Exhibitionist with a local medical facility earning $30,000.00 annually.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES) team provided support and services to a veteran who was facing homelessness. The OVES team coordinated an interview with a veteran-owned business who interviewed and hired the veteran as a Removal Specialist earning $14.00 per hour. The veteran also received assistance with food, gas card, and other services from partnering agencies. This the second at risk of being homeless veteran hired by this company in two weeks.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff provided intensive services to a veteran who overcame homelessness and attended the Job Club program weekly to redevelop a resume; attend work seminars; and enhance interviewing skills. The veteran was hired as a Cleaner earning $12.50 hourly wage.
• A spouse of 100% service-connected disabled veteran worked with local Office of Veteran Employment (OVES) staff who provided an initial assessment; career guidance; job referrals; resume creation; case management; and job search and placement. With the assistance from the OVES team, the spouse found employment as a Collections Representative earning $12.00 per hour.
• A service-connected disabled veteran received assistance with resume development; job leads; and job referrals from Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran secured a position as an Auto Tire Maintenance Tech at a rate of $12.00 per hour.
• A service-connected veteran was given intensive career services from the Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES) team who assisted with resume creation; job referrals; and interviewing tips. Due to the guidance received from the OVES team, the veteran received a job offer earning $62,400.00 per year as an IT Project Coordinator.
• A low-income veteran worked with the local Office of Veteran Employment Services team who provided the veteran with initial assessment; job referrals; resume development; and several other career services. The veteran subsequently found employment as a federal wage grade GS 9 - Information Technology Specialist earning $43,857.00 per year.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff assisted a service-connected veteran with mock interviews and resume development. The veteran was referred to a position as a Claims Specialist, interviewed, and was offered the position starting February 2019 with an annual salary of $40,000.00.
• The Office of Veteran Employment Services staff assisted a 50% service-connected veteran who needed assistance with all aspects of the job search process. After providing guidance and support with many career services, the veteran gained employment as a Forklift Driver making a wage of $31,200.00 per year.
• A previously incarcerated veteran met with the Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES) staff after being was terminated from employment. The OVES staff assisted the veteran with developing a resume; referred the veteran to the Department of Veteran Affair's Veterans Outreach and Recovery Program; and assisted with job searches. Subsequently, the veteran was offered a position as a Truck Diesel Technician, earning $20.00 per hour starting February 2019.
• A service-connected disabled veteran was hired referral by the Office of Veteran Employment Services staff. The veteran gained employment as a full-time Call Center Specialist with benefits. The veteran's wage is $19.00 per hour and will receive shift premium for working weekends and/or 2nd shift.
• A 40% service-connected disabled veteran who was unemployed met with an Office of Veteran Employment Services team member for an intake appointment and was given full service career planning. After developing a resume and receiving guidance on employment searching skills, the veteran was called for an interview and was hired as a General Laborer with a starting wage of $17.50 per hour.
• A Chapter 31 veteran who was referred to the Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES) by the Vocational Rehabilitation program in July of 2018, reached out to OVES for assistance and to recommence career planning services. The veteran suffers from extraordinary interview anxiety which has resulted in difficulty obtaining employment. OVES staff and the veteran put significant effort into working on these barriers through consistent contact; mock interviews; reassurance; and coaching. The veteran interviewed for a Veterans Benefits Specialist and was offered the position staring in April of 2019 earning $16.80 per hour. The new position is significantly more than the $11.00 per hour the veteran previously earned as a Care Provider.