According to the most recent statewide report on employment released by the Maine Department of Labor, Maine’s unemployment rate currently sits at 3.3%. For Maine Veterans, that number is 2%. At the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, we understand all that our Veterans can and do contribute to our workforce. Their skills, know-how and work ethic all benefit employers across the State of Maine, and with the Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign (MHAVC) set to kick-off it’s 2019 campaign on August 29th, we wanted to take this time to tell you about what the campaign has to offer.
At the Bureau, we understand the difficulties in transitioning from military service to civilian life. This transition is not only difficult for the service member, it can also be difficult on the family unit. Augmenting the pressure of leaving the only life and career you have ever known is the thought of having to seek employment on your own. In Maine, we have worked extremely hard to recruit and attract Veterans to our state, showing them that in Maine, you can have the quality of life you are looking for while at the same time, earning a good living for yourself and your family. MHAV Campaign provides Veterans and employers both a variety of resources and tools to make the hiring experience easier, and in most cases, quicker.
Since it’s inception in 2015, the Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign has connected 500 employers with over 1000 veteran-hires. The campaign runs for 100 days with the mission of recruiting 100 employers to hire 100 Veterans. So successful, the Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign has been recognized as a best practice by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). The Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) works hard on behalf of our Veterans, and we are proud to continue partnering with them to advocate for this population.
As part of the campaign, MDOL provides support to employers wishing to hire Veterans and their families by providing military and Veteran cultural training to help them better understand military culture and how Veteran skill sets can contribute to their workforce. We encourage employers to sign up for the Maine Hire-a-Vet Campaign to take advantage of available resources – to do so, please contact Steven Roy, Campaign Coordinator at 207-624-5156 or MaineHireAVet.DOL@maine.gov.
Veterans and transitioning service members who are looking for a new or a better job are encouraged to contact the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services for referrals to the employment resources available to them in Maine. Across the state, MDOL has 12 Career Centers with representatives ready to assist Veterans who walk through their doors. Veterans can receive help with their job search, resume writing, and interview skills – all of which are free.
We encourage interested Veterans to visit their local career center to prepare their resumes for the Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign kick-off on August 29th. The event will be held at the Augusta Civic Center from 11:00am – 3:00pm, and it the State of Maine’s largest hiring fair – so don’t miss out!
At the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services, we are committed to leading Maine’s Veteran advocate community to best serve our Veteran population. Whether it is bolstering employment opportunities, improving access to education opportunities, or facilitating access to healthcare and mental health programs, we lead by example in honoring Maine’s legacy of service and our Veterans’ contributions to our communities and our workforce.
For more information on these services or any other issue you need assistance with, please call us at 207-430-6035 or visit www.maine.gov/veterans.
Sarah A. Sherman, Director of Strategic Partnerships
Bureau of Veterans’ Services
117 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0117
(207) 430-5816
Email: sarah.sherman@maine.gov
