Released: December 16, 2020
Delaware County’s Workforce Development Board has partnered with Community Action Agency of Delaware County and Delaware County Community College to offer free services for Veterans who are seeking employment.
For Veterans who want to move up in their careers or move to a different type of work, tuition assistance is available for certificates in high-demand fields. Veterans seeking careers that value their military experience can pursue training in a wide variety of fields including logistics, health care, or technology.
Some Veterans may need additional support to overcome challenges and thrive in the workplace. The Delaware County Workforce Development Board partners with Community Action Agency of Delaware County to offer comprehensive services to help Veterans get back on their feet. Community Action Agency of Delaware County operates several programs for Veterans in Delaware County, including the Veteran Employment Project. The Veteran Employment Project provides career pathway opportunities, case management, and other supportive services to Veterans in Delaware County who are unemployed or underemployed.
The Veteran Program staff has had significant success in connecting Veterans to gainful employment. Most recently, the Veteran Program team at Community Action Agency worked with a Veteran who had recently transitioned from homelessness to permanent housing but lacked income to sustain his housing. The team helped the Veteran to identify his skills and goals and then completed two online applications. The first application was for a Fulfillment Center position at Amazon in Logan Township, NJ. The other was for a warehouse position at UPS at the Philadelphia International Airport. Upon successful application submission, the Veteran scheduled interviews for both positions. He practiced with a mock interview and prepared a plan for the day of the interview to ensure a positive outcome. The Veteran was offered both positions and selected the position at Amazon. During the follow-up call with Amazon, the Veteran mentioned that he had a similar role in the past, which enabled him to negotiate a higher salary. The Veteran is currently employed, stably housed, and equipped with a renewed confidence to thrive in the future.
Veterans who are interested in these services can contact Eileen Kemske of Community Action Agency of Delaware County at 610-874-8451 or find information at www.caadc.org. For information about tuition assistance contact PA CareerLink® Delaware County at 610-723-1220, wec@dccc.edu or visit www.pacareerlinkdelco.org