(SAN ANTONIO – July 25, 2019) As a local non-profit focused on elevating individuals through vocational training and employment, Goodwill San Antonio is inspiring the San Antonio community to recognize National Hire a Veteran Day on Thursday, July 25.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian life each year. National Hire a Veteran Day was established by the Hiring Our Heroes organization as a day to remind employers to consider veterans for open positions. As trained and dedicated individuals who have experience performing varied tasks and adapting to changing situations, veterans bring significant leadership, collaboration, and innovative problem-solving skills to the civilian workplace.

Despite these many assets, however, each day American military veterans are faced with issues unique to those who have served our country in uniform when competing in today’s job market. In addition to the need to find a job, obtain loans, and secure health care, more often than not, veterans leave the armed forces with military occupational specialties that are not easily translated to the civilian workforce. This coupled with the challenges associated with adapting to a civilian work culture present additional barriers a veteran must overcome.

"Understanding freedom comes with responsibility, we at Goodwill San Antonio are committed to helping veterans as well as their spouses and dependents change their lives through the power of work,” states Becky Balencia, senior manager of workforce programs for Goodwill San Antonio. “Our goal with our Veterans Career Services program is to make every transition seamless and successful. Goodwill has a proud history of serving veterans, and helping veterans obtain civilian careers is the best way we can honor their service and sacrifice."

Goodwill San Antonio’s Veterans Career Services program is tailored to translate a veteran’s military skills into a successful civilian career. By leveraging the training received in the military to find employment in a similar field or providing the resources to start a new career, Career Services Specialists who once served in the military themselves provide dedicated, individualized, no-cost assistance to transitioning veterans and their family members. Veterans complete an interest skills assessment and work with their Career Services Specialist to develop a plan that addresses family needs such as child care while also focusing on specific job training skills such as résumé writing, mock interviews, and job placement strategies.

The program also assists veterans with financial planning and career training for in-demand job categories such as Nurse's Aide, Pharmacy Technician, Commercial Truck Drivers and more through Goodwill San Antonio’s Good Careers Academy.

Goodwill San Antonio works closely with military partners, civic leaders, and local employers to provide opportunity to veterans and their family members and has been recognized throughout the community for their work in placing veterans into meaningful employment.

Through its award-winning Business Services division, Goodwill San Antonio has a presence on every military base in San Antonio employing veterans and managing contracts for the U.S. government and local municipalities for outsourced services ranging from document management and contact center solutions to grounds maintenance activities.

Veterans career services are available at all 8 Goodwill San Antonio Good Careers Centers.

For more information on Goodwill San Antonio’s Veteran Career Services program and to view a monthly calendar of career workshops, visit www.goodwillsa.org/services/vetcenter.

About Goodwill Industries of San Antonio

Serving San Antonio since 1945, Goodwill San Antonio is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit social enterprise that helps change lives through the power of work. When you donate to or shop at Goodwill, your purchases and donations help fund education, training and career services to empower people with life barriers to find meaningful employment. In addition to operating retail stores and donation stations in San Antonio, Cibolo, Kerrville, Laredo, New Braunfels, Seguin and the surrounding areas, Goodwill San Antonio provides certified vocational training programs through its Good Careers Academy, free employment services through its Good Career Centers, and manages contracts for the U.S. government and local municipalities for outsourced services ranging from document management and contact center solutions to grounds maintenance activities through its Business Services operations.