As we approach Remembrance Day, Canadians gather at various locations throughout their communities to pause in a silent moment of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace. Although veterans are remembered during their time of service in the military, their skills and work is often ignored once they step on Canadian land. Veterans face extraordinary challenges not only in the military but once retired, their transition from the military and into the civilian workforce becomes even more difficult. Canadian Soldiers who retire from the military find it very difficult to enter into the workforce due to various reasons such as their lack of communication skills, civilian-professional network and the stigma that is attached to soldiers where employers feel that many will inevitably develop PTSD because of their exposure to combat situations.
At a local CEO networking event in Hamilton, Ontario, a CEO brought up the simple but significant question “Is there something that we can do for our transitioning veterans?” From that proposed question, Civiside.com created the Guaranteed Interview program which became the solution.The G.I program is a unique and free initiative that enables employers to give veterans a hand-up by guaranteeing at least one interview to a veteran qualified for their job posting. The primary goal is to put veterans on equal footing with their civilian peers so that service to country is not an employment disadvantage. Employers are encouraged to use the G.I program logo on their career sites, recruitment collateral, and job postings.
Civi-Side represents both a business and a charity and the value attached reaches out to the veterans, employers across Canada and to the Civi-Side organization. As a nation who supports our soldiers role and mission in the military, it is essential that we continue to support them once they leave the service for the simple reason that, "we owe it to them". It takes a certain individual to contribute to our armed forces by enrolling in the military. Life in the military world is not an easy task for various reasons such as constant traveling, long working hours, harsher living conditions and so on, not to mention that their family members are by their side, therefore constantly traveling with them. Although their military duty is complete, many soldiers come home with hopes of finding a job and/or career in order to continue to support themselves and their families. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Veterans who return home face challenges to getting work because many are unsure of how their military skills can be transferable into Canadian jobs. Military men and women are at a disadvantage because they lack the networking connection in which most Canadians have with family, relatives and friends over years of living here. Civi-Side.com seeks to bridge the gap between the veterans and Canadian networks, giving them an equal and fair opportunity. The program is a win-win situation where everyone including the employers gain an intrinsic value a.k.a. corporate social responsibility.
"The philosophy of the G.I. program is not that one employer should interview all veterans but that all employers should interview at least one veteran"
Speaking to all Canadian, lets not just remember what our veterans have done for us, what they are currently doing for us and what they will be doing for us in the years to come, lets continue to support life after war!
Veterans who return home face challenges to getting work because many are unsure of how their military skills can be transferable into Canadian jobs. Military men and women are at a disadvantage because they lack the networking connection in which most Canadians have with family, relatives and friends over years of living here. Civi-Side.com seeks to bridge the gap between the veterans and Canadian networks, giving them an equal and fair opportunity. The program is a win-win situation where everyone including the employers gain an intrinsic value a.k.a. corporate social responsibility.
"The philosophy of the G.I. program is not that one employer should interview all veterans but that all employers should interview at least one veteran"
Speaking to all Canadian, lets not just remember what our veterans have done for us, what they are currently doing for us and what they will be doing for us in the years to come, lets continue to support life after war!
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