homeless vet
how can I as a homeless vet get work without feeling like no one wants to hire Me because of 1)being homeless and out of work for a year or more 2) even tho qualified to do jobs people still have that look in their eyes that they don't like homeless people and just want to put us in jail so they don't have to see us at tax payer dollars or yell "get a job' but yet nobody wants to actually help us get off the streets? I feel sad and ashamed when I see fellow homeless vets and homeless people get treated like scum but yet no one wants to actually give us the hand up and not the hand out. I have been lucky to finally get into a transitional housing, but still getting the polite answer of we are hiring just not YOU, so either I am to old, to over qualified or just don't have the right stuff to be in the work force anymore. any ideas on what I can do to maybe get a hand up and not the hand out?
Hi Daniel: I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through such rough times. It's an absolute disgrace how our nation treats homeless vets! I think your best bet would be to prioritize companies that have made it their personal mission to hire vets. I found a list of companies that make it a point to hire vets: https://www.veteranjobsmission.com/companies I really hope this helps - let us know what else the community can do to help!
Hey Daniel, What you're experiencing is definitely unfortunate and we stand in solidarity with your job search challenges but I'm hear to tell you that not all employers share the same sentiment or hiring practices when considering service veteran applicants. There are plenty of veteran friendly companies out there who actively recruit an hire veterans. The key is connecting to those employment opportunities and ensuring you have all the necessary tools to qualify for the job ready at hand.
First.. How do employers know you're homeless? Do you have a usable address you can use now that you have transitional housing? That should be enough to use on an application and resume. You also mentioned two other areas that are a major concern for other jobseekers, employment gaps and ageism bias. Understanding and overcoming ageism is a more information solution but explaining the gaps in your work history takes strategy.
Call the PA CareerLink in Butler County at 724-431-4000 and make an appointment for a one on one consult with a career counselor who will help you overcome those perceived employer risks factors they take into consideration when deciding who to hire. Also, ask about the next recruiting or hiring event and try to coordinate your appointment on the same date. Your not alone.. reach out to me if you have any other questions. https://www.careeronestop.org/resourcesfor/veteran/veteran.aspx