Employers 4 Veterans: Jobs for U.S. Veterans

Omniplex Joins HireVeterans.com

2008-08-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

Leading Intelligence Support Service Firm Seeks to Hire U.S. Veterans

OMNIPLEX World Services Corporation Joins HireVeterans.com

by Marcy Bulstrom

OMNIPLEX World Services Corporation, a leader and innovator in delivering professional intelligence support services, is reaching out to hire qualified U.S. Veterans. OMNIPLEX provides investigative and physical security services to corporations and government agencies located throughout the world. It is a privately held company based in Chantilly, Virginia, with annual revenues of over $100 million.

OMNIPLEX is also a Top-100, minority-owned firm. It is a ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certified firm. They are one of the fastest-growing minority-owned enterprises in the country, employing more than 3,500 professionals worldwide, each with diverse skills and disciplines supporting our security and investigative services to government agencies and Fortune 500 companies.

To fill these jobs, OmniPlex has partnered with HireVeterans.com, a leading job board that puts military veterans together with outstanding employers worldwide.

History: Growth, Accomplishments

Julien G. Patterson founded OMNIPLEX in August 1990, selecting highly qualified and motivated professionals who shared his values and vision to guide the company into what is today a $100 million-a-year organization that specializes in background investigations and physical security services for the federal government, Fortune 500 companies, and regional business entities. Since our inception, OMNIPLEX has always had a positive cash flow, offered competitive wages, and provided a generous benefits package to our employees. We consider people our most important resource. With more than 3,500 professionals worldwide, we have received numerous awards and were recognized in 2006 as one of Greater Washington, D.C.'s Top 15 "Best Places to Work" by the Washington Business Journal.

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS
The following is a partial alphabetical listing of businesses and government agencies to which OMNIPLEX has provided services:

ISO 9001:2000 Certification
OMNIPLEX is ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certified. The ISO 9001 quality control standard exceeds commercial best practices, is our defacto quality standard, and is an integral part of our operating culture, policies and procedures.

The ISO 9001 standard is an internationally recognized quality management system developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). To be certified, OMNIPLEX instituted a Quality Management System (QMS), with corresponding procedures detailing both the administrative and operational workflow requirements, and the necessary activities to deliver a high level of service to meet customer requirements. The ISO 9001 certification tells our customers that OMNIPLEX operates a QMS in accordance with the ISO 9001 standard.

"Right People. Right Values.®" is the company's founding principle and guides every aspect of the business, from the employees they select to the customers and communities they serve and support. Each and every employee is committed to the central tenets of honesty and integrity.

OMNIPLEX also operates OMNISEC International Investigations, Inc., (an OMNIPLEX wholly owned subsidiary). It is one of the largest investigative service contractors in the United States. OMNISEC Investigators perform personnel security background investigations, pre-employment screening and business due-diligence services. We are one of the few companies chosen to perform national-scope background investigations directly for the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and civilian agency components of the U.S. Government. They provide a wide variety of armed and unarmed physical security support services for hundreds of thousands of civilian, military and government personnel.

OMNISEC provides total security solutions including staffing, planning and managing complex and intricate security installations and physical protection in the following settings:

Government facilities
Military operations
Embassy compounds
Manufacturing plants
Industrial settings
Office buildings
And other commercial and government settings

"OMNIPLEX was built upon the belief that there is a moral high ground in business. Our customers know that our mission statement is grounded to that value. Our success is guided by this principle, and it reflects our commitment to quality and continuous improvement and is validated in our client satisfaction ratings and sustained annual growth." — Julien Patterson, President and CEO

The OMNIPLEX team is made up of thousands of talented individuals around the world — all of them committed to excellence, honesty and integrity. OMNIPLEX is one of the largest and fastest growing minority-owned enterprises in the world, offering a vast array of exciting career opportunities in a wide range of challenging fields.

They offer world class benefits to qualified U.S. Veterans including:

Comprehensive medical/hospitalization/prescription coverage
Comprehenisve dental coverage
Vision Coverage
Basic Life & Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Cancer insurance (optional)
Intensive Care Insurance
Long Term Care Insurance
Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
Voluntary Dependent Life Insurance
Accidental Death and Dismemberment and personal accident insurance
401 K plan with matching contributions
Direct payroll deposit
Paid vacations and holidays
Section 125 Pre-tax Premium Conversion Plan
Family Medical Leave
Bereavement Leave
Jury Duty Leave

OMNIPLEX also offers corporate and team activities that enhance camaraderie, fellowship and build teamwork. Additionally, they support employee activities for everything from charitable functions and contributions, to community outreach programs. They encourage their employees to give back to the community and support organizations nationwide. "

Career Advancement — Opportunities are Unlimited

Right People. Right Values.® is at the core of all that OMNIPLEX does for its' customers and employees. And, equally important, because they believe in promoting from within, OMNIPLEX is an ideal choice for those looking for a career, not just a job.

Their frequent, regular performance reviews, and employee development and incentive programs are all designed to help advance employees' careers. Furthermore, they support employees in their quest for professional advancement, providing training programs, seminars and educational and technical opportunities to help employees get ahead.

Dept. of Labor OFCCP Office Unveils 2 Initiatives to Get Veterans Hired and Employed

2008-08-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

U.S. Department of Labor announces two new initiatives aimed at promoting hiring of veterans and applicants with disabilities

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has unveiled two initiatives aimed at promoting the hiring of veterans and protecting the rights of applicants with disabilities: The Good Faith Initiative for Veterans Employment (G-FIVE) and Ensuring the Accessibility of Online Application Systems.

The G-FIVE was created to address the employment challenges facing the veteran workforce today by recognizing federal contractors for their efforts in employing and advancing covered veterans," said Charles E. James Sr., deputy assistant secretary for OFCCP. "It reaffirms OFCCP's commitment to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act and creates an excellent incentive for federal contractors to hire veterans."

"The G-FIVE also strengthens partnerships between OFCCP and veterans groups and other agencies," added Victoria Lipnic, assistant secretary of labor for employment standards. "It's an OFCCP initiative that supports America's heroes."

The second initiative, Ensuring the Accessibility of Online Application Systems, is designed to ensure that federal contractors and subcontractors provide equal opportunity to qualified applicants with disabilities, including disabled veterans, to compete for jobs when using an online application system.

Electronic job application systems must be accessible to, and usable by, applicants who have disabilities, or the contractor must provide a reasonable accommodation that allows an equal opportunity to compete for a job.

"Nothing is more fundamental to equal employment opportunity than the opportunity to apply for a job," said James. "As more and more employers turn to the Internet to locate and screen job applicants, this initiative is crucial to ensuring that disabled veterans and other qualified individuals with disabilities are afforded that opportunity when an online system is used."

The directives outlining these new initiatives, along with frequently asked questions, are available on OFCCP's Web site at www.dol.gov/esa/ofccp/index.htm.

DOL-VETS Grants for Stand Down Support

2008-08-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

DOL-VETS Grants for Stand Down Support

Approximately $400,000 Available for Stand Downs

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) continues to support local Stand Down events that assist homeless veterans and is now accepting applications for Stand Down grant awards. A Stand Down is an event held in a local community where homeless veterans are provided with a wide variety of social services in one location.

Under this announcement, VETS anticipates that up to $400,000 will be available in each of the three fiscal years for grant awards of up to a maximum of $10,000 per multi-day event (more than one day), and a maximum of $7,000 for a one (1) day event. VETS expects to award approximately forty-five (45) grants each fiscal year. Availability of Fiscal Year 2009, and Fiscal Year 2010 funds will be dependent upon Congressional appropriations.

Applications for Stand Down funds will be accepted from State Workforce Agencies and State and local Workforce Investment Boards, Veterans Service Organizations (VSO), local public agencies, and non-profit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations. USDOL is not authorized to award grant funds to organizations that are registered with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(4) organization.

To view the full Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA), click here.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-17622.htm

Western & Southern Financial Group Joins HireVeterans.com

2008-07-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

Create a Rewarding Future After Leaving the Military

Major Financial Services Firm Reaches Out to Hire Veterans

Leaving the Air Force, Army, Navy, or Marines? You may have what it takes to create a successful sales career at The Western and Southern Financial Group (Western & Southern). They are looking for men and women like you: disciplined leaders with a history of achievement, a desire to help others, and a strong work ethic. By partnering with HireVeterans.com, a major leading U.S. Veterans job board, Western & Southern is reaching out right now to hire U.S. Veterans.

Now what kind of a future can you create with Western and Southern Life Insurance Company? The words satisfying and rewarding come to mind. You’ll enjoy unlimited earning potential and opportunity for advancement. You’ll feel the pride of representing a great company. And you’ll experience the satisfaction of helping clients achieve financial security.

Success in sales requires hard work, but the rewards are great. If you believe you have what it takes, read on and discover that you can create the career of your dreams at Western & Southern.

Know the Business
What’s a sales career at Western & Southern really like? Let’s start with the big picture. They sell life insurance and annuities, but the real benefit they provide is peace of mind. Because of our efforts, clients will have the financial resources to maintain their standard of living, send their children to college, and retire comfortably – no matter what the future holds. That’s work you can be proud of!

Want to find out more about the day-to-day work required? Here are two position profiles to help you picture yourself on the road to success:

Sales Representatives offer affordable life insurance and annuity solutions to clients’ financial needs. Daily activities include analyzing client needs, recommending financial solutions, generating sales leads, and setting and tracking daily goals.
Follow the road map for success outlined in their outstanding training programs, and you can establish a network of satisfied clients and expand it year after year.
Sales Managers are seasoned leaders who keep the spark of motivation burning bright in a team of Sales Representatives. Daily activities include recruitment, training, coaching, and supervision.
You’ll work closely with your team, counseling Sales Representatives in one-on-one sessions and working alongside them on sales calls. Your advice and example will enhance the lives of sales staff and clients alike. You’ll also know your commitment and professionalism are key drivers in our positive, values-driven culture.

Okay, so are you interested in finding out more about a career in sales at Western & Southern? Well, just click here to see all of their jobs posted. Then apply to them and get your new career going.

ABOUT WESTERN AND SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP

Western & Southern rich business heritage dates back to 1888. Learn more about our products and services and the markets we serve. Three of the most highly regarded insurance rating services consistently recognize Western & Southern for its financial stability and operating performance.

As Western & Southern Financial Group is a dynamic family of diversified financial services companies having reached in excess of $35 billion in assets owned and under management.

Aug. 6: Veterans Expo Career Job Fair

2008-07-18T12:27:00.001-07:00

VETERAN’S EXPO

A Career/Benefits Fair & Welcome Home Event
A great opportunity to showcase your skills, training, and education!

Who: ALL veterans and their spouses

When: Wednesday, August 6, 2008, 11 am – 4 pm

Where: The Belmont Complex, 415 Butler Rd. Kittanning, PA 16201

What: You should bring ample copies of your most recent resume and dress appropriately for interviewing. There will be areas reserved for interviews to be conducted. Make sure you come prepared.

Transportation: Buses will be available on a first come first serve basis. An advanced reservation for seating is required. To reserve your seat please call your local Veterans Employment Representative. Deadline to reserve seating is 25 July 2008. Call Now!

Allegheny

Armstrong

Butler

Indiana

Westmoreland

Ken Semevoski

412-552-7014

PA CareerLink

Down Town Pitts.

Mike Stone

412-481-8200

Veterans Leadership Program (VLP)

Susan Riggsby

724-543-7112

PA CareerLink

Kittanning

Debra Ernst

724-431-4014

PA CareerLink

Butler

Jackie Barto

724-471-7234

PA CareerLink

Indiana

Rick O’Domes

724-334-8600x211

Alle-Kiski

PA CareerLink

Sean Zielinski

724-755-2330x132

Youngwood

PA CareerLink

The Veterans Expo is designed to provide all veterans and their spouses job opportunities available with employers in the region. Attendees may also speak with representatives from numerous educational institutions, apprenticeship programs, and obtain information about financial aid. The Veterans Administration (VA) will be available to provide pertinent and timely information on veteran’s benefits, how to file for your benefits, and how to access care.

There will also be a Welcome Home Event for Recent OEF/OIF Servicemembers that have returned from recent worldwide military engagements. There will be food, entertainment, and recreational activities for the returnees and their families. For additional details please contact Bill Cress at 724-285-2493 or Tod Conner at 1-800-362-8262, ext 5583.

Expo Hosted by: VA Butler Healthcare and Pennsylvania CareerLink (representing the Allegheny Co., Armstrong Co., Butler Co., Indiana Co., and Westmoreland Co. CareerLink Offices)

News from the VA’s Office of Human Resources and Administration

2008-07-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

News from the VA’s Office of Human Resources and Administration

What's Inside:

Enhancing Workplace Diversity: Strategies for Success.
Seven Ways to Better Communicate in Today's Diverse Workplace.
Have You Met the Challenge of a Diverse Organization?
Balance Between Work, Home Ensures Health.
Treadmill Workstation Brings Exercise to Office, Slowly.
Career Skills and Workplace Happiness.
Humor at Work is a Precious Commodity That's in Short Supply These Days.
Workplace Bullying Worse Than Sexual Harassment.
Desk Rage Spoils Workplace for Many Americans.

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Supervisory Qualifications Guide
Workers Question Diversity Efforts. Despite gains in recent years, most U.S. workers aren't satisfied with their employer's workplace diversity efforts, with nearly half saying they've faced discrimination on the job, a recent survey finds.
Enhancing Workplace Diversity: Strategies for Success. The challenge in having a diverse workplace is to effectively manage all the different dimensions that naturally occur with human interaction.
Seven Ways to Better Communicate in Today's Diverse Workplace. Your employees may come from nations all around the world. The challenge: ensure that their contributions aren't buried under language and cultural differences.
Have You Met the Challenge of a Diverse Organization? Why you need to pay increasing attention to the diversity in your workplace, the problems that can arise if diversity management is poorly done and, most important, how you can bring about a diverse work culture.
Balance Between Work, Home Ensures Health. For most people, juggling the demands of career and personal life is an ongoing challenge. When our work life and our personal life feel out of balance, stress—with its harmful effects on our health—is the end result.
Treadmill Workstation Brings Exercise to Office, Slowly. A new product that combines a treadmill and a computer workstation allows people to work on their computers while walking at a pace of up to two miles per hour.
Career Skills and Workplace Happiness. A survey of more than 10,000 people from 139 countries indicates that employees who are confident in their personal effectiveness skills in five key areas are happiest at work.
Humor at Work is a Precious Commodity That's in Short Supply These Days. Authors Adrian Gostick and Scott Christopher contend that working at a company that values humor can provide a competitive advantage, help attract and retain employees, and spark creativity.
Workplace Bullying Worse Than Sexual Harassment. Whether it takes the form of belittling comments, persistent criticism, or withholding resources, bullying at work is more harmful than sexual harassment, according to new Canadian research.
Desk Rage Spoils Workplace for Many Americans. Anger in the workplace is shockingly common and likely growing as Americans cope with woes of rising costs, job uncertainty, or overwhelming debt, experts say.
Employers Take Active Role in Promoting Workplace Wellness. Recognizing that chronic illness accounts for 75 percent of healthcare spending, many employers are taking a "hands on" approach to improving employee health and wellness by promoting programs that address smoking, obesity, and disease prevention and management.
21 Keys to Magnetic Likeability. Likeability is tied deeply into some of your most stubborn, long-standing habits and behaviors. As with conquering any major personal change, it takes time and practice.
Businesses Find Worker Volunteerism Helps Third Bottom Line. A new study by Deloitte L.L.P. suggests many companies may be missing the opportunity to leverage volunteerism to develop business and leadership skills.
Office Politics: How Leaders Lose Their Voice. Three primary leadership dimensions, when compromised, mute your voice regardless of the power of your communication ability.
200 Questions Job Candidates May Ask Your Company. Here are some questions that applicants may ask recruiters, managers, HR pros, and others.
TSA Awards HR to Lockheed. Viewed by many as a bellwether of things to come, the Transportation Security Administration signed an eight-year, $1.2 billion deal with Lockheed Martin Corp. to provide TSA with comprehensive human resources support.
Agencies Progress on Human Resources LOB. Agencies have made progress in moving to standard human resources systems and processes, the Office of Management and Budget said in a recent report to Congress.
Employees in Retail, Communications, Health Care Most Likely to Say They'll Leave. Workers in technology, health care, communications/media, and retail/hospitality companies are less likely to remain with their present employers than their counterparts in most industries, according to a survey by BlessingWhite.
Which Job Seekers Use the Web? A surprise: According to a Gallup survey, younger employees are less likely than their older counterparts to use online job search tools.
Utah's Cutback in Workweek Worth Watching. Many eyes will be on Utah in the coming year, as the state government experiments with a 4-day workweek.
Oklahoma Agencies Nudged to Change to 4-Day Work Week. In Oklahoma, state agencies are being urged to get on board with the idea of a 4-day workweek or flexible schedules that allow employees to save on high gasoline prices.
OPM Gets Behind Telework. In a memo to human resources directors, the associate director of human resources policy in the Office of Personnel Management's Strategic Human Resources Policy Division encourages the use of telework and alternative work schedules.
Four Ways to Make Telecommuting Work for You and Your Company. Working at home may seem a dream solution to gas prices and work/life balance. But you better plan for problems.
Do We Need Weekends? The idea of a defined workweek makes great sense if you’re performing synchronous tasks—activities in which everyone has to be there all together to get the work done. But how much of our work today is synchronous?
Moms Aren't the Only Ones Looking for Balance. Clearly, women are pushing the policy changes and family-friendly programs that have landed companies on “best places to work” lists. But fathers seeking a better work/life balance are creating change in more subtle ways.
Sloan Network Addresses Issues for Working Parents of Disabled Children. The Sloan Work and Family Research Network hosted a panel meeting at Boston College on "Work-Family Issues for Employed Parents of Children with Disabilities."
Baby Boomers: The Gloomiest Generation. America's baby boomers are more downbeat about their lives than are adults who are younger or older, according to a new Pew Research Center Social and Demographic Trends survey.
50 More Years of Women Making Less Money Than Men? Research shows pay discrimination isn't going anywhere soon. Neither are promotion barriers, sexual harassment, or bias against mothers.
Working Moms Look Back with Mixed Emotions. Motherhood brings many difficult decisions, but perhaps the most fiercely debated is whether women should work outside the home, especially when their children are small. Whatever their decision, the choice is rarely easy.
Group Apologizes for Its Racial Bias. The American Medical Association, long considered to be the voice of American doctors, formally apologized for more than a century of policies that excluded Blacks from the group.
Racism's Long and Torturous History Against African-Americans. The American Civil War was fought in part over slavery, but legal prejudice against African-Americans and other cultures was sanctioned by U.S. laws, and it wasn't until the 1940's and 50's that things really began to change.
What to Say to Biracial/Multiethnic Coworkers. Curiosity is not wrong in and of itself. Often, it's the delivery and not the question that’s the problem. Here are ways to properly inquire about a person's racial or ethnic heritage that are less likely to offend.
Things to Say to Asian Coworkers. Here are some suggestions on ways to compliment, communicate with, or simply ask earnest questions to an Asian coworker without offending him or her.
House Panel Passes Bill Aiding Severely Disabled Veterans. The House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee approved a measure that would protect the most severely disabled veterans from making insurance co-payments.
Hearing on Veterans Disability Claims Processing. The chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing on veterans’ disability claims processing.
Billing Problems to Third-Party Insurers Plague VA. A sample of VA medical centers failed to follow proper billing procedures to check if private insurance companies owed money to the Department, according to a report released by the Government Accountability Office.
Top Senator and 10 States Attack VA for Banning Voter Registration Drives. The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee chairman has called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to reverse its policy barring voting rights groups from holding voter registration drives on campuses where injured veterans are living or receiving medical care.
American-Indians Walk Across U.S. for Cause. Participants in Longest Walk 2, an 8,300-mile trek from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., are drawing attention to the effects of environmental devastation on American Indians and all people.
Civil Rights Leaders Call for Renewed Enforcement of Civil Rights Laws under Next Administration. At the American Constitution Society national convention, a panel of civil rights leaders and legal experts outlined what they felt the next presidential administration should do to reinvigorate the Federal government's enforcement of civil rights laws.
Playing Catch Up. One of the Federal government's selling points to new employees is the strength of the benefits agencies offer. But for gay and lesbian employees, the financial value of those benefits may be less if they have to purchase additional health insurance for their partners.
Tattoos Taboo? Workers Debate Whether to Cover Up Body Art. While significant numbers of the U.S. population have tattoos, the reaction is mixed on whether to cover up tattoos while on the clock, even among those who are proud of their body art.

NewsLink is part of VA's ongoing effort to increase awareness and acceptance of diversity and to promote a flexible and inclusive work environment. For more information, visit the Office of Diversity Management and Equal Employment Opportunity Web site at www.va.gov/dmeeo.

Salary.com 2008 Salary Value Index for U.S. Military Veterans

2008-07-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

Is your paycheck not stretching far enough?

Are you considering moving to a new town?

Perhaps you're even having trouble finding a job. If so, it may be time to look at one of the cities at the top of Salary.com's Salary Value Index. The compensation experts at Salary.com uncovered the top (and bottom) US cities for building personal net worth, taking into account local salaries, cost of living, and unemployment relative to the national average.

This year’s list also factored in qualitative measures including diversity of industry, education level of the cities’ population, proximity to post secondary institutions, percent of population below poverty level, and median travel time to work, resulting in an interesting and robust list of top cities.

Take a look at the Top 5 and Bottom 5 Salary Value Index cities. Click to see sample salary ranges. Compare the differences between the cities or even try out your own job title.

Top 5 Cities
Rank	City	Salaries and Jobs
1	Plano, TX	Salaries and Jobs
2	Aurora, CO	Salaries and Jobs
3	Omaha, NE	Salaries and Jobs
4	Minneapolis, MN	Salaries and Jobs
5	Albuquerque, NM	Salaries and Jobs

Bottom 5 Cities
Rank	City	Salaries and Jobs
1	New York, NY	Salaries and Jobs
2	Washington, DC	Salaries and Jobs
3	Los Angeles, CA	Salaries and Jobs
4	Honolulu, HI	Salaries and Jobs
5	San Francisco, CA	Salaries and Jobs

The Top 5

#1. Plano, Texas
Located within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area, Plano is the 9th largest city in Texas. A frequent destination for business travelers, it is home to many corporate headquarters. The city has a reputation as one of the best places in the country for employers to do business and for families to live and work. Plano has a nationally acclaimed public education system and well-educated, diverse residents.

#2. Aurora, Colorado
Aurora is part of the Denver Aurora metropolitan area and is the 3rd most populous city in Colorado. Once a budding frontier town of farmers and ranchers just east of Denver, Aurora is now largely a “suburban” city with over 450 neighborhoods. Aurora has a booming economy and is a business leader in key growth industries including biotechnology, aerospace and high technology.

#3 Omaha, Nebraska

Part of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska. Omaha has been racially and ethnically diverse since its founding and continues to boast a rich cultural background. With diversification in several industries including banking, insurance, telecommunications, architecture/construction, and transpiration, Omaha’s economy has grown dramatically since the 1990’s.

#4 Minneapolis, Minnesota

Moving to the Midwest, the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota shows up as #4 on Salary.com's Salary Value Index list. Minneapolis is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and is the largest city in the state of Minnesota. The economy is based in commerce, finance, rail and trucking services, health care and industry.

#5 Albuquerque, New Mexico

This fast growing city lying at the center of the New Mexico Technology Corridor, is the largest city in the state of New Mexico. Boasting a newly revitalized downtown area, Albuquerque is a major Southwestern city with a diverse population and some of the leading high tech research facilities in the country.

The Bottom 5
It's no surprise that the high living costs in New York City and Washington, DC have landed these cities at the bottom of the Salary Value Index. These cities do have some of the highest average wages in the country, but when it comes time to stretching your dollar and accumulating a nest egg for the future, it difficult to do in these cities. High living costs also landed Los Angeles, CA, Honolulu, HI, and San Francisco, CA in the bottom 5 Salary Value Index cities.

About Salary.com
Salary.com is the leading provider of detailed compensation information. Through continual analysis, Salary.com tracks up-to-date salary information for more than 3,700 job titles. This information is available online through the Salary Wizard. Salary.com also tracks cost of living through the Cost of Living Wizard.

ITA International Joins HireVeterans.com

2008-07-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

International Staffing Company Looking to Hire Veterans for Jobs Around the World

Jobs for Veterans Available Now at ITA International

by Gordon G. Gates

With the job market in flux, it's more important now then ever to reach out and hire our U.S. Veterans. Once such company is just doing that right now!

ITA International is hiring U.S. Veterans for international assignments. ITA is dedicated to providing only the highest quality consulting and technical support services to their clients around the world in the areas of training and exercises, security consulting, civil-military operations, interagency operations, cross cultural programs, and crisis response-continuity of operations, in order to provide a secure and stable "Arena" from which clients can successfully accomplish their missions.

To reach out, ITA has partnered with HireVeterans.com, America's premier job board exclusively for U.S. Veterans.

Through it's outreach, ITA International, which is an SBA 8(a) certified, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Disadvantaged Business, is aimed at hiring those who have experience in the arenas of;

* Security/Antiterrorism
* Mission Analysis
* Cross-Cultural Training
* Operational Support
* Emergency Management
* Small Boat Operations
* Vulnerability Assessments
* Navy Operations
* Planning
* Exercise and Training
* Disaster Relief
* Civil Military Operations
* Expeditionary Warfare
* Special Operations
* Staff Support

TRAINING
ITA offers many different training courses throughout the year and prospectS including a 40-Hour Cultural Competency Course designed to provide students with;

An appreciation for the relevance and importance of cultural awareness for personnel working in regional environments.
Interpersonal skills necessary to successfully communicate with, foster trust, and support decision making with counterparts of different cultural, religious, ethnic, socio-economic, and regional orientation.
The ability to understand how cultural factors impact the operating environment.
An overview of International Governmental Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (IGOs and NGOs).
An overview on the role and function of the American Embassy/U.S. Country Team.
An overview of the organizational structure and charter of the United Nations.
Information for prospective students

# Regional orientation:
* Current offerings include: South and Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
* Detailed country studies based on client needs.
* Information for prospective students
# Regional Analysis:
* In-depth country analysis of potential mission areas.
* Tailored to customer deployment schedule.
* Information for prospective students
# Intensive Language Training:
* Current offerings include: Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
* Language Training will be 4 weeks of intensive classroom instruction with immersion activities.
* Information for prospective students

ITA is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and supports diversity in the workplace. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or sexual orientation.
ITA is a drug-free workplace.

Jobs for Wounded Veterans

2008-06-30T09:33:00.000-07:00

Job Hunting a Major Challenge for our Veterans

Unemployment rate for wounded veterans is estimated in double digits

With the economy in dire straits, The job market is tightening and it's just not like the good ole days. I mean picture this, you're a disabled veteran having to deal with your injuries and reconnecting with civilian life while juggling resume writing, retraining and networking and it makes the hunt 100 times more difficult. Basically, that challenge many wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan must deal with and face.

Thanks to the lastest medical advances, soldiers are now able to survive devastating injuries that may have killed them in previous wars. This little discussed fact is creating a large pool of disabled veterans looking for jobs once they return home. They are also struggling with hidden disabilities such as traumatic brain injuries and mental health issues which create a silent challenge.

According to the latest stats from Department of Veterans Affairs, there are a total of about 869,000 veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and about 225,00 are collecting disability benefits.

“Disabled Veterans have a lot of unique challenges and they have a hard time finding jobs,” says Paul Rieckhoff, executive director with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

He estimates that the jobless rate among his 100,000 members is in the double digits. There is no sign of relief says Rieckhoff.

Rieckhoff further adds that the government and corporate America are not doing enough to help the men and women who were injured in combat to find job training and job opportunities.

According to the Department of Labor, the jobless rate as of 2007 for veterans returning from these recent wars is 6.1 percent, nearly 2 percentage points higher than non-military population. While the jobless rates among disabled and non-disabled veteran is about even, only 81.8 percent of disabled Iraq and Afghanistan vets are active job holders or jobseekers compared with 90.7 percent of veterans without a disability.

Rieckhoff says the low participation rate among disabled veterans is a function of their circumstances. While some will never be able to hold down a job because their disabilities may be too severe, others don’t know where to turn for help.

“In general the VA has done a poor job of setting our veterans up for the job market,” he explains.

While the VA is not an employment agency, it does offer vocational programs to help injured Veterans find new occupations, said VA spokesman Jim Benson. The VA also operates about 220 centers throughout the United States that offer counseling and links to employment services, he says.

Understanding employers are key to helping these disabled vets get back into the work world.

“With the right assistance and support, a wounded vet can do anything,” says Ryan Kules with The Wounded Warrior Project, an injured vet advocacy group.

Kules, who lost an arm and leg in Iraq, is now helping disabled vets reintegrate into the workplace. “There are jobs they thought they’d never be able to do, and these things need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis. But with help like special software, or just a bit more time to do things, they can go back to work,” he adds.

“These are highly talented individuals,” says Carol Hartnett, a health and disability expert with The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., which recently teamed up with The Wounded Warrior Project to host the "Beyond the Battlefield" leadership summit, a conference to help wounded vets improve their leadership and networking skills. “I have worked with well over 100 veterans. I can tell you these people have developed on battlefield skill sets that are critical for success in business.”

The company even provides a free guide for employers called: “Workplace Warriors: The Corporate Response to Deployment and Reintegration.”

Her advice to both employers and wounded veterans is to accept the disability and focus on the abilities.

Other organizations besides The Hartford are looking to help disabled vets find jobs and careers.

Magy Barroso, HR Manager at Pinkerton Government Services says that they reach out and are willing to provide education and training to help get those veterans who need up to speed in the corporate world.

In addition, some universities and schools are stepping up to the plate.

The University of Idaho created the “Operation Education Scholarship” program two years ago to provide disabled veterans seeking a college degree with full financial assistance. “We want them to not have to work and graduate from school without debt,” explains Karen White, chair of the program.

Sessions Online, an Internet-based school for graphic design, just announced it’s offering scholarships for injured vets that will cover 100 percent of courses “for graphic and Web design, as well as Apple iMac computers and professional-level design software,” according to a spokeswoman.

Disabled vets should also check out the Department of Labor’s Recovery & Employment Assistance Lifelines (REALifelines) program, which launched in 2004.

Michael Biddle, an agency spokesman, said 7,040 disabled service members and their families have received employment assistance through the program, which offers job counseling and job training.

U.S. Veterans: Post the Best Resume and Get the Job

2008-06-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

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Employers 4 Veterans: Jobs for U.S. Veterans

Omniplex Joins HireVeterans.com

Dept. of Labor OFCCP Office Unveils 2 Initiatives to Get Veterans Hired and Employed

DOL-VETS Grants for Stand Down Support

Western & Southern Financial Group Joins HireVeterans.com

Aug. 6: Veterans Expo Career Job Fair

A Career/Benefits Fair & Welcome Home EventA great opportunity to showcase your skills, training, and education!

News from the VA’s Office of Human Resources and Administration

Salary.com 2008 Salary Value Index for U.S. Military Veterans

ITA International Joins HireVeterans.com

Jobs for Wounded Veterans

U.S. Veterans: Post the Best Resume and Get the Job

A Career/Benefits Fair & Welcome Home Event
A great opportunity to showcase your skills, training, and education!