State Leadership Quotes Fewer things are more important than honoring our veterans. One of the best ways we can do this is by working with prospective employers to provide employment opportunities for our heroes. I applaud the Texas Workforce Commission for their commitment to our veterans and I look forward to continuing my work with them to provide economic opportunity for all of Texas former military members. Governor Greg Abbott Our veterans are highly-trained individuals who have the technical and professional skills employers need to boost their company s performance. The Hiring Red, White & You! statewide hiring fairs provide a great opportunity for Texas employers to recruit these highly skilled veterans. TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar
State Leadership Quotes Through the training our military receive, veterans have acquired important skills that employers are seeking. This hiring event represents the importance of Texas employers working together to help our veterans who have served our nation as they begin the next chapter of their lives. TVC Executive Director COL (Ret) Thomas Palladino Many highly-qualified service members are returning to civilian life every day. I encourage all veterans looking for employment to seek out the Hiring Red, White & You! hiring fair taking place in their area. This is a great way to network with employers who have job openings to be filled. Navy Veteran & Former TWC Commissioner Ronny Congleton
Launched in 2012, the Hiring Red, White & You! statewide awareness campaign is a joint initiative supported by Gov. Rick Perry, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the Texas Veterans Commission, and Texas Medical Center surgeon and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston professor Dr. James H. Red Duke Jr. The Hiring Red, White & You! Job fairs are free to both employers, veteran job seekers, and spouses of veterans are also encouraged to attend. In the first four years, HRWY has connected more than 42,000 veterans with over 6,400 employers.
Veterans are talented and dedicated workers, and businesses that employ them will benefit from their skills. Military service brings great value to the workplace. Veterans bring experience, skills and leadership abilities that strengthen the Texas Workforce and help employers succeed. TWC Commissioner Ruth Hughs State Wide Job Fair in all 28 Workforce Board Development Areas.
Final Event Numbers Final Preparations State After Action Review State Data Collection Lock in Venue Issue Contracts DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV WDBA/WP Planning Conduct Outreach to Employers & Veterans H R W Y Conduct Veteran Outreach Conduct Employer Outreach WDBAs/WFS/ Partners conduct After Action Reviews WDBAs Report to TWC WDBAs Submit Budget Request to TWC Hiring Event Funding is Included in Annual WDBA Contracts Leadership Assigned Venues
Lessons Learned & Best Practices Rural and small Workforce Development Board Areas do not have large veteran populations. In order to make the job fair beneficial to employers, rural and small Workforce Board Areas open the job fair up to all job seekers. Job Fair is only open to Active Duty, National Guard, Reservist, veterans and their families for the first couple of hours. Starting the third hour, the job fair is open to all job seekers. This practice can be incorporated for non veteran job fairs for all Workforce Development Board Areas. It is a very simple way of providing Priority of Service.
Lessons Learned & Best Practices Start outreaching employers as early as six months out from the week of Veterans Day. Send a save the date so employers can get it on their calendars. Follow-up with employers at least monthly to make sure they are still interested in attending. Inform employers at every veteran and non-veteran hiring fair about the Hiring Red, White & You! job fair. Provide flyers to employers with the basic registration information for the job fair.
Lessons Learned & Best Practices Lock in venue as far out as possible. Try to use donated venues such as Veteran Service Organizations Post Halls. The venue must have the space to support the following: Parking Interview area Computers for veterans and job seeker to register or fill out on line applications Must meet accessibility standards Place for employers to take a break On public transportation routes Reasonably easy for veteran job seekers and employers to locate
Lessons Learned & Best Practices A well planned registration process for employers, veterans and other job seekers is critical to success! Workforce and partner staff must have a means to track veteran and other job seekers who attend the event and apply appropriate services. Workforce and partner staff must be able to track and match job fair attendees to wage records. Workforce and partner staff must follow-up with veteran and other job seekers. Workforce and partner staff must follow-up with employers. Teamwork is critical!!!
Lessons Learned & Best Practices Invite Veteran service organizations to participate in the job VSO s may donate money to support the event. When possible, invite the Department of Veteran Affairs Benefits Administration to participate in the job fairs. Invite Veteran County Service Officers if applicable. When applicable, invite the Department of Veteran Affairs Human Recourse Offices to participate as employers. Do not forget to invite other federal, state, county and municipal agencies. They have jobs and some have Veteran Hiring Preferences!
Teamwork
Successful Outcomes Over the Years! Year Employers Total Veteran & Other Job Seekers On Site Hires 2012 1,411 10,262 27 2013 1,552 11,212 67 2014 1,759 9,754 444 2015 1,791 11,480 370
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