News Release
OPM Director Kay Coles James Sends Federal Recruiters to Veterans' Medical Center in Tampa, Florida
Veterans viewed as untapped employment source for federal work force
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Kay Coles James is continuing OPM's efforts to reach out to the nation's veterans for federal employment. OPM staff experts recently continued Phase II of the Veteran Invitational Program (VIP) at the James Haley Veterans' Affairs Medical Center in Tampa, Florida last Friday.
"We must actively pursue veterans for federal employment," James stated. "It is our duty to ensure these brave men and women have every opportunity for consideration in the federal work force - therefore we must make every effort to provide the right information and tools for success."
Phase II of the VIP includes visits to veterans' medical centers nationwide. The OPM veteran outreach group conducts seminars on veterans' preference and various appointing authorities. They also conduct workshops on efficient navigation of the OPM USAJOBS website, www.USAJOBS.opm.gov, where all federal jobs are posted. Other workshops focus on resume writing and interview skills, and understanding the federal hiring process. One of the more popular educational items is the OPM-produced DVD, "What Veterans Need to Know About Veterans' Preference," a comprehensive 40 minute video seminar of veterans' preference rights and eligibilities.
"America's veterans need to know that opportunities exist to continue serving their country through the federal work force," stated James. "By visiting veterans' medical centers across the country, we are saying to veterans that we honor your service and we are ready to educate you on the federal hiring process."
OPM aggressively reached out to veterans through Phase I of the VIP launched in August, 2003. In Phase I, OPM developed informational brochures and posters designed to raise the level of awareness among separating soldiers from the U.S. Armed Services. These materials were distributed to all major veteran service organizations and military separation offices throughout the country.
"We are encouraged by the tremendous success of the first phase," said James. "In a survey posted on the USAJOBS website, 80 percent of the veterans on the website learned about the VIP. It's apparent the awareness is there, so we must seize the opportunity to show veterans the way to federal employment."
Visits already have been made to Walter Reed and Hampton Roads medical centers in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as the Albany, New York and Cleveland, Ohio veterans' centers. Additional visits took place in Kansas City, Missouri; Jacksonville, Florida; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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