Google Workshop Aims To Help Veterans Land Jobs
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Going from the military to civilian life is often tough for veterans, especially when it comes to finding a job. Certain skills get lost in translation, but CBS 2's Dana Kozlov one company spent the day trying to help.
Quentin Finney now calls Google his work base. The former 14-year marine is part of a push to help fellow veterans land a job at the company's "Help a Hero Get Hired" workshop.
"Whether or not I wear a uniform is moot. I still serve, I just serve in a different capacity now. So it is an opportunity for me to give back to people who have also served," said Finney.
The focus is crafting a resume those in the corporate world can understand.
"The things you do in the military, it really difficult to put that into words, civilian words, on a resume. How do you know what kind of leadership skills you had when you were overseas managing teams and stuff like that," said veteran Chris Murphy.
Most of the veterans at the workshop served in Iraq, Afghanistan or both. According to the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for those who've served since 2001 was nine percent last year. For younger veterans, 18-24, the rate was a staggering 21.4 percent. That compared to the national rate of seven percent.
Navy veteran Emily Siefken knows there are reasons why some corporations won't hire veterans. It's time, she says, to change that.
"Don't just say thanks, help provide professional development to us and we will earn our way," said Siefken.
Forty veterans took part in the workshop through Google's partnership with Student Veterans of America and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
