Michigan Business Beat | Teri Sand, CAMW! How the Business Services Team Helps Veterans

Originally uploaded November 26, re-edited February 18th. Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Teri Sand, SHRM-CP, PHR, CBSP, CRP, Business Services Manager, Capital Area Michigan Works!, Lansing, MI, but serving Ingham Eaton, and Clinton Counties. THEME: In light of Veteran’s Day, Capital Area Michigan Works! Business Services Manager Teri Sand gives an overview of the veteran support services CAMW! provides and the importance of aiding veterans in their job searches. Question: What barriers might veterans face when looking for a job? ● The shift from military to civilian life can be challenging, as veterans may struggle to translate military skills into civilian job qualifications or find jobs they feel a meaningful connection to. ○ According to the U.S. Department of Veterans, some barriers veterans may experience when reentering the workforce include: ■ Learning how to look for, apply or interview for a civilian job, especially if they have never done so before. Question: Why is it important to specifically support veterans in their job search? ● It is important to support veterans in obtaining employment not only because of the sacrifices they have made for our country but also because they bring valuable experience and skills that, though developed in a military setting, equip them for success in the workforce. Question: What services does CAMW! provide to directly support veterans in seeking employment? ● One resource CAMW! offers to support veterans is access to Veterans’ Career Advisors (VCAs). ○ Located within Michigan Works! American Job Centers, VCAs provide intensive, individualized support to veterans and their spouses, including comprehensive assessment interviews, career guidance services and individual employment plans. Question: You mentioned that CAMW! frequently connects veterans to InvestVets for employment resources. Could you elaborate on the services InvestVets offers and its role in supporting veterans? ● INVESTVets focuses on bridging the military-civilian cultural gap, which as we’ve discussed, is one of the most significant barriers to veterans' employment. Question: Where can veterans go to learn more about the services CAMW! offers? ● To learn more about the services CAMW! offers, veterans can visit our website at camw.org. Under the "Career Seekers" tab, there is a dedicated page titled “Veteran Employment Services.”