This June, we graduated 17 veterans from the first cohort of our Vets for Success Employment Skills Training Program. The new program provides educational and vocational opportunities and life skills training, preparing individuals to secure and retain gainful employment and achieve economic self-sufficiency.

In preparation for the program, participants received one-on-one resume help, generously offered by volunteers from Bacardi. The program included Suited for Success’s signature employment skills training curriculum, as well as advanced customer service training applicable to any industry. The program was capped off by presentations and mock interview practice with local employers Walmart and Capital One. All 17 program graduates received certificates and interview suits from Suited for Success, as well as ongoing support through our Career Center with their resumes and online job search and application process.

The response from attendees was unanimously positive. In post-program evaluations, clients reported increased confidence in their job search and enhanced skill sets in the areas of job searching and interviewing. All clients expressed that they would recommend this program to other veterans.

“The training was very helpful,” reported one veteran. “Retraining of this information brings confidence that we (vets) can get employed.”

Another cohort of Vets for Success was held in August, with 14 veterans completing the program. The next cohort will be Nov. 6-9, 2017, at the Culmer Community Center in Overtown. The program is open to military veterans and family members who are unemployed or underemployed and actively job seeking. Interested participants, case managers, and corporate partnership representatives should contact Jeff Wahl at jwahl@suitedforsuccess.org.

Vets for Success is supported by Walmart, the Norman Braman Philanthropic Fund, Capital One, Judith and Norman Fields Family Fund, Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, Ocean Bank, Amazon, TD Charitable Foundation, AmTrust Bank, and Publix Super Market Charities.