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August 31, 2006

Shock and Unemployment

While Republican, blogging housewives all across this great land throw their weight behind the troops with nightly prayers and the purchase of a $2.49 magnetic yellow ribbon (or, for the truly dedicated, sometimes two, each flanking the keyhole of the rear hatch on the minivan)...

While Democratic undergrounders and Sheehanites claim to be against the war but in support of the troops, even though they're a bunch of mindless baby-killers under the influence of Bushy McChimpHitler Halliburton IV*, and the moonbats have the protest signs to prove it...

Some folks are actually coming up with good ideas.

Support the Troops -- Hire Them

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly one in five veterans age 20 to 24 is unemployed. This is three times the national average...

A disclaimer: I have never served in the military. And it doesn't take a lot of reading between the lines of my writing to see that I, like the majority of Americans, believe that enough people have died in Iraq, and it's time for us to get the heck out of there.

But I do think our soldiers have tackled a really tough assignment, and the vast majority have represented their uniform and country well. I'm not sure that I'd say that returning vets should get special treatment, but for the youngest of the returning soldiers to have three times the unemployment rate of nonvets is embarrassing. And wrong...

Support the troops by hiring them, it's the least that we can all do.

Unfortunately, my position is one of indirect influence on the organization, and not one where I am making hiring decisions, so I can't be much help there.

However, as I've mentioned previously on this, m'wee bit of webspace, I have a fair bit of experience in drafting resumes for myself and others. Going through two outplacement programs helps (one when I voluntarily left a company, one when I was laid off).

So, here's the deal. If you're ex-military, or soon to be, and have recently returned from a tour of duty only to find the civilian workworld a strange creature, I'll take a look at your resume for free and give some feedback via email. It's gratis, so you can take it or leave it; your call - if you've done your research on how to sell yourself, you probably won't need much help from me anyway.

Alternatively, if you find the feedback valuable but still aren't comfortable being your own pimp, I'll rework the whole thing for you, with your input, but that takes a lot more time, something my dearth of blogging should indicate isn't in great supply; thus, it also takes money (time is money, so I am told). Price negotiable depending on how much work will be required, but - overall - I work pretty cheap I think.**

Granted, a good resume doesn't guarantee anyone a job - and I won't go so far as some companies that promise you an interview if you use their services (it strikes me as a dating service promising you a wedding, only to find out she's a hairy mail-order bride). I might be able to help you get the date - but getting to the corporate altar is up to you; just avoid the hirsute, postage-paid womenfolk.

So, fellow bloggers, left and right, how are you supporting the troops? And how can we do more for them once they return?

* Obviously, I do not share this view.

** I hope that doesn't sound like a crass sales pitch, but between work, family, and the money and time I give to other causes I support, something's got to give.