WELCOME TO THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

1. WELCOME TO THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

2. What is TAP? A Partnership of: • Dept of Defense • Dept of Labor • Dept of Veterans Affairs • Dept of Homeland Security Goal: To ease the transition for Service members from a military career back to the civilian sector by connecting them to necessary services and resources. • Pre-separation Counseling • TAP Employment Workshops • VA Benefits Brief • Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP) T-I-2

3. DOL TAP Employment Workshop DOL Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) exists to assure that Veterans succeed in the 21st Century Workforce. VETS has provided TAP Employment Workshops to separating and retiring military members and their spouses since 1990. • Employment Workshops • 2 ½ Days • Professionally trained facilitators • Focus on resumes, interviewing & job searches • Provide skills assessment & Labor Market Information

4. Workshop Overview This 2 ½ day workshop covers six core topics: • Personal Appraisal • Anticipate & Deal with Stress • Identify strengths and analyze skills • Determine work preferences & work-related values • Career Exploration • Career Research • Assess financial needs T-I-3

5. Workshop Overview (continued) • Strategies for an effective job search • Set goals and get organized • Researching companies • Job search assistance & employment opportunities • Creating effective resumes • Interviews • Interview process • Handling questions and answers • Body language & “Dressing for Success”

6. Workshop Overview (continued) • Reviewing Job Offers • Evaluate job offers • Negotiate job offers • Communicating your decision • Support and Assistance • Dept of Defense • Dept of Labor • Dept of Veterans Affairs • Small Business Administration • Federal Student Aid

7. Workshop Standards and Expectations • You will complete a hand-written DRAFT resume. • You will understand how to use the Key to Career Success Cards and know the resources available to you at a One-Stop Career Center. www.servicelocator.org

8. Workshop Standards and Expectations (continued) • You willconduct a Mock Interview and receive feedback you can use. • You will be familiar with the DVOP/LVER positions and how to contact a representative in the area you will be residing or searching for employment. • You will be expected to attend each day of this workshop

9. WORKSHOP ADMINISTRATION • Breaks • Meals • Dress • Participation • Attendance T-I-2

10. SECTION 1.1 Objective: • Recognize the importance of developing a stress reduction plan T-1.1-1

11. WHAT IS STRESS? “A mismatch between the demands in our lives, and the resources we have available to deal with those demands.” T-1.1-2

12. STRESS AS A PART OF LIVING • Is a normal part of our lives • It may be positive or negative • We can’t avoid stress Stress is any change that you must adjust to... T-1.1-3

13. COPING WITH STRESS • Develop and maintain a plan to manage the effects of stress • Seek professional assistance if needed T-1.1-4

14. HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS • VA estimates that as many as 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night.* • More than twice that many experience homelessness over the course of a year.* *US Department of Veterans Affairs - 2005

15. WHY ARE VETERANS HOMELESS? • Male veterans are twice as likely to become homeless, and female veterans are four times more likely to be homeless as their non-veteran counterparts. • A large number live with post traumatic stress disorders and addictions acquired during or exacerbated by their military service. • Lack of family and social networks due to lengthy periods away from their communities of origin. • Government money is limited and serves only one in 5 of homeless veterans in need.

16. PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS AMONG VETERANS • Military service separation process • Participate in “pre-separation” counseling process • Participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Employment Workshop • Know about your VA Benefits • Obtain income • Seek early assistance for mental health and substance abuse issues

17. USDOL – VETSHomeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program • This program provides employment, training, and supportive services to assist in reintegrating homeless veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force.

18. USDOL – VETS Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program • VWIP provides employment, training, and supportive services to assist in reintegrating eligible veterans into meaningful employment within the labor force.

19. SECTIONS 1.2-1.4 Objectives: • Gather the information and records you need in order to create a resume, fill out a job application, and prepare for a job interview • Deal effectively with the strengths and challenges arising from military experience • Identify your transferable skills that can be used in a variety of jobs T-1.2-1

20. MILITARY SERVICE • Separation Papers – DD Form 214 (certified copy or copy 4) • Training Record • Honors and Awards • DD FORM 2586 - Verification of Military Experience and Training • Service Record • Medical Record • Benefits WORK EXPERIENCE • Work History (job titles, employers, duties, accomplishments) • Work Samples • Honors and Citations • Community Activities • Salary History • Licenses • Certifications TYPES OF RECORDS PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION • Birth Certificate (copy) • Proof of Citizenship • Social Security Card • Passport (current) EDUCATION AND TRAINING • Transcripts • Diplomas/Certificates • Honors • Activities List T-1.2-2

21. MASTER APPLICATION • Personal Information • Education and Training • Special Skills • Military Service • Work Experience • Other Information T-1.2-3

22. VETERAN’S EMPLOYMENT STRENGTHS • Leadership • Discipline • Training • Accountability/Recordkeeping • Teamwork • Work with diverse groups • Work under pressure T-1.3-1

23. VETERAN’S EMPLOYMENT STRENGTHS • Plan Systematically • Safety • Follow Directions • Drug Free • Maturity • Security Clearance T-1.3-2

24. VETERAN’S EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES • Communications • Stereotypes • Unrealistic Expectations • Credentials T-1.3-3

25. SECTIONS 1.5-1.6 Objectives: • Identify your work-related values • Determine your personal preferences • Explain why your work-related values and preferences are important in making job decisions T-1.5-1

26. SECTIONS 2.1-2.2 Objectives: • Identify and research career possibilities • Determine your financial needs as a way of estimating your salary requirements T-2.1-1

27. SECTIONS 3.1-3.2 Objectives: • Set personal goals • Get organized T-3.1-1

28. TYPES OF GOALS • SHORT-RANGE • INTERMEDIATE-RANGE • LONG-RANGE T-3.1-2

29. EMPLOYMENT GOALS Employment goals need to be SMART: Specific Measurable Adaptable Realistic Trackable T-3.1-3

30. SECTIONS 3.3-3.7 Objectives: • Plan an effective job search • Understand how to conduct company research • Learn about job assistance resources • Understand how to begin using the internet as part of the job search process • Analyze job announcements and ads for critical information T-3.3-1

31. LOOKING FOR WORK T-3.4-1

32. NETWORKING T-3.4-2

33. JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE 1. Internet 2. State Workforce Agency (Employment Office) 3. Local Veteran’s Employment Representatives (LVER) 4. Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment T-3.5-1

34. JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE 5. Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training (BAT), U.S. Department of Labor 6. Private Employment Services 7. College/School Placement Agencies 8. Military and Professional Associations and Organizations T-3.5-2

35. JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE 9. Telephone Directory Yellow Pages, Industry Directory 10. Industrial and Craft Unions 11. Job Fairs 12. Transition Offices 13. Chambers of Commerce T-3.5-3

36. One-Stop Career Centers • Every state has centers that provide services at no cost to veterans and job seekers. • Available services vary by location. • Every center has a veterans’ representative to serve veterans.

37. Veteran’s Representatives - DVOP Disabled Veteran Outreach Program: Provides intensive services to meet the employment needs of disabled veterans and other eligible veterans, with the maximum emphasis directed toward serving those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, including homeless veterans with barriers to employment

38. Veteran’s Representative - LVER Local Veteran’s Employment Representative: Conduct outreach to employers and engage in advocacy efforts with hiring executives to increase employment opportunities for veterans, encourage the hiring of disabled veterans, and generally assist veterans to gain and retain employment

39. One Stop Centers Can Provide: • Job search assistance • Employment referrals • Skills Assessments • Computer/Internet access • Unemployment Assistance • Labor Market Information • Vocational Guidance • Education and Training Assistance

40. One Stop Centers cont. • Credentialing and Apprenticeships • State and national job banks • Child care resources • Transportation assistance may be available • Workforce Investment Act • Veteran’s Priority

41. Finding a one-stop close to you

42. SECTIONS 3.8-3.9 Objectives: • Understand how to complete application forms • Understand how to find opportunities for Federal Civil Service Employment • Understand how to initiate the Federal application process T-3.8-1

43. Section 3.10 Create An Effective Resume T-3.10-1 Create an Effective Resume

44. Section 3.10 Objectives Review key elements in the resume writing process Write career objectives and descriptive accomplishment statements Construct a draft resume T-3.10-2 Create an Effective Resume

45. Opens The Door In the job search, paper is the great equalizer. Most employers want to see you on paper before meeting you in person. Your Resume… T-3.10-3 Create an Effective Resume

46. Marketing Your Resume Basic Job Search Principle = Market Yourself! T-3.10-4 Create an Effective Resume

47. Purpose of a Resume Marketing Tool – sells YOU! Summarizes how your skills and abilities can contribute to their company. Helps get you a Job Interview Employer screening tool T-3.10-5 Create an Effective Resume

48. The Importance of Career Decision Making in the Resume-Writing Process To write the most effective resume, you need to know what career field you want. Research: The career field you would like to pursue Where the jobs are and who is hiring What qualifications and credentials you need to attain How to best market your qualifications T-3.10-6 Create an Effective Resume

49. Resume Formats Chronological Functional Combination Targeted T-3.10-7 Create an Effective Resume

50. Resume Formats Chronological Focuses on your work history with most recent position first Easy for employers to follow your career history Shows career progression and growth T-3.10-8 Create an Effective Resume