This Veterans Day, SitePro Solutions would like to thank the men and women who have bravely served this country in the armed forces. It is because of their selfless service that we enjoy the many freedoms and privileges this great country provides.
As American veterans transition from military service to civilian life, they deserve the best employment opportunities the nation has to offer. We believe veterans are a great fit for construction careers, and our clients agree – we have overwhelming success in matching veterans with jobs in the construction industry. From plumbers and HVAC techs, to electricians and cable techs, military veterans have many diverse career options to pursue within the skilled trades.
According to Veterans Build America, there are numerous benefits to hiring veterans. To name a few, vets are fast learners, work hard, and perform well under pressure. They are also used to working side by side with people from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. Veterans often gain valuable leadership experience during their military service, which gives them great potential for growth into management positions. And finally, who better understands the importance of teamwork than a U.S. military veteran?
An apprenticeship is a smart way to go about learning a skilled trade because participants can get paid and gain valuable work experiences while they learn. Any fees related to apprenticeship programs are typically affordable and can be paid overtime, which eliminates the need to take on student debt. Apprenticeship graduates leave with a nationally-recognized credential, which makes them highly marketable to construction employers in every state. In fact, 94 percent of apprentices retain employment once completing their program, and earn an average starting salary of $70,000.
Resources for Veterans
The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of Labor, recently launched the VETS apprenticeship pilot program. In this program, placement counselors connect veterans with apprenticeships to learn a skilled trade. First, these counselors help veterans to determine which construction trade would be the best career path for them to pursue. Then, program participants can tap into the agency’s vast network of employers and industry associations to apply for apprenticeships in their respective communities.
Another great resource for veterans is Build Your Future Arizona’s Hard Hat Heroes program. This initiative helps military veterans to earn free construction credentials from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). Service members and veterans can apply to gain free access to a range of online courses, including construction math, construction site safety, material handling, and others. To participate, veterans should fill out an application specific to their particular military branch.
The current worker shortage in the construction industry has made employers and government agencies eager to assist and encourage all men and women to learn a skilled trade. Veterans can benefit from even greater opportunities to pursue careers in construction because they are uniquely suited to work in this industry, and because they are urgently needed at this time.
Visit our job board to search current construction job openings by trade or location.