A Local Veteran Employment Representative (LVER) is an individual who works within the publicly-funded American Job Center network in the United States. Their primary role is to assist veterans in finding suitable employment opportunities. Local Veteran Employment Representatives (LVERs) work with employers in several key ways to facilitate the hiring and retention of veterans:
- Educating Employers: LVERs educate employers about the benefits of hiring veterans, including their skills, discipline, leadership abilities, and diverse backgrounds. They emphasize the value that veterans can bring to the workforce and help dispel misconceptions about hiring veterans.
- Promoting Veteran Hiring Initiatives: LVERs advocate for veteran-friendly hiring practices within organizations. They encourage employers to implement policies that support the recruitment, hiring, and retention of veterans, such as participating in veteran job fairs and hiring events.
- Facilitating Connections: LVERs serve as a bridge between veterans seeking employment and employers looking to hire. They match qualified veterans with job openings that align with their skills and experience, facilitating introductions and connections that benefit both parties.
- Assisting with Job Postings and Recruitment: LVERs assist employers in posting job openings targeted towards veterans on job boards, company websites, and veteran-specific employment platforms. They help customize job descriptions to attract veterans and provide advice on inclusive language and accommodations.
- Providing Workforce Development Support: LVERs may collaborate with employers to develop workforce development programs tailored to veterans’ needs. This effort can include training initiatives, apprenticeship programs, or on-the-job training opportunities designed to help veterans gain new skills or transition into civilian roles.
- Supporting Employer Compliance: LVERs inform employers about legal obligations under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), and other laws related to hiring veterans. They ensure that employers understand and comply with these requirements to protect veterans’ employment rights.
- Offering Post-Hiring Support: LVERs may provide ongoing support to employers after hiring veterans, including assistance with retention strategies, addressing workplace integration challenges, and connecting veterans with additional supportive services if needed.
Through these efforts, LVERs play a crucial role in promoting veteran employment and fostering positive relationships between veterans and employers in their local communities. They contribute to building inclusive and supportive workplaces that value the skills and experiences of veterans.
Through its VetCentral technology, DirectEmployers delivers federal contractor jobs for compliance with the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA) and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), providing priority veteran referrals, and acting as a resource of current jobs for local veterans’ employment representatives (LVERs), as well as disabled veteran outreach program specialists (DVOPs), and Business Service Representatives throughout the country.