West Michigan Works! and Veterans Employment Services (VES)

At West Michigan Works! Veterans and their spouses may qualify for priority of service and other individualized employment services. “Priority of service” means they can access services before or in place of non-Veterans. West Michigan Works! also hosts Veterans career advisors and/or Veterans representatives at their service centers. They work directly with Veterans to help identify military skills, create and update resumes to reflect skills that transfer to civilian job opportunities, and connect them to Veteran-specific community resources.

VES provides a host of intensive services and resource information focusing on the needs of eligible Veterans and spouses who are unable to obtain employment through the core services provided by Michigan Works! Service Centers. This includes individualized, one-on-one career services that are designed to reduce or eliminate barriers into the workforce.

For additional information on training and employment services available to veterans, please contact Rashawn Robinson.

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Rashawn Robinson

Michigan Rehabilitation Services

Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) works with Veterans that need assistance keeping or finding employment that have a medical condition, depression, anxiety or other health conditions. They help develop customized workforce solutions for individuals and assist with reasonable accommodations if needed. Services include employment readiness, job development, job coaching, medical durable equipment and vocational assessments based on their concerns with working, and support services to help them be successful in their career goals. Many services are free and help create a healthy work/life balance.

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Contact Sharlene Organ, Business Relations Consultant: 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Vocational Rehab assists veterans who have an interest in being employed and/or barriers to employment.  They help veterans with connecting to employers and apprenticeships for employment, accommodations, connecting to educational and entrepreneurial resources, vocational assistance, general vocational assessment and vocational counseling. Veterans must have VA medical services or the ability to acquire VA medical services.

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Contact Kimberly Hewitt MS CRC LPC , Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor: 

Hello West Michigan

Career resources for vets and their significant others relocating to the area, recently relocated, or local and unemployed. Upload a resume, talk to a Candidate Concierge, search area companies and jobs. Plus info on West Michigan communities .

Contact Rachel Gray: 

Volunteers of America Michigan

Volunteers of America Michigan has employment services for Veterans who qualify for our HVRP program. Our HVRP program assists Veterans in preparing for employment with services like resume building, interview training, computer training, employer connections and many other supportive services to help a Veteran prepared for employment. Our HVRP program also has financial assistance that can assist with employment related expenses including transportation assistance, interview clothing, work clothing, work tools and a variety of other employment related expenses.

Contact Tyler Sisson: 

616.259.5416 or tsisson@voami.org

West Michigan Veteran's Coalition

The West Michigan Veterans Coalition is a collaboration between local military friendly organizations that provide support, information, and resources to those that have served or are serving in the Armed Forces and their Families, employers, and other organizations throughout West Michigan

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Our mission is to improve the lives of anyone who has served or is serving in the Armed Forces and their Families by connecting them to resources including education, employment, healthcare, and quality of life services.

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Contact Debra Unseld:

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR)

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a DoD-sponsored volunteer organization that seeks to create a culture in which military service is valued by every civilian employer in the US.

Employment Support of the Guard and Reserve:

• Recognizes the outstanding support already provided by many civilian employers to their National Guard and Reserve employees.

• Educates both employer and Guard/Reserve employee about their respective rights and responsibilities under the federal law governing employment of Guard/Reserve members in the civilian workplace.

• Through informal mediation, helps to resolve conflict - when it arises - between employer and Guard/Reserve employee. 

• Serves as the primary advocate for civilian employers within DoD. ESGR is the only federal agency tasked with these missions. 

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More Info