NC4ME, Cisco, & MetLife Team Up To Boost NC Veterans In The IT Field
Research Triangle Park, NC – Veterans and transitioning service members interested in the information technology (IT) field participated in a two-day career acceleration event on February 28 and March 1. Hosted by industry partners and nonprofit organizations including North Carolina for Military Employment (NC4ME), Cisco, and MetLife, the event was designed to shed light on the growing opportunities and resources available in North Carolina for veterans. Job seekers were educated on careers in IT and interviews were conducted for open positions with military-friendly companies.
More than 20,000 service members transition out of the military each year in NC, and 778,000 veterans already call NC home. “With over 18,000 open IT jobs across North Carolina, hiring military talent is much more than just the right thing to do,” says Stuart Ruffin, Deputy Director, North Carolina Military Foundation. “Connecting service members to careers in the IT field helps fill skills gaps and drives economic growth for the state.”
This event was one of several hosted throughout the year by NC4ME aimed at making North Carolina the number one state for military employment.
Day One, an IT Awareness Day at the Cisco Training Campus, featured remarks by Secretary Larry Hall (NC Department of Military and Veterans Affairs) as well as an overview of IT careers and training resources (many free) in NC. Tips on interviewing, best practices, resume reviews, and a Q&A with veterans who have successfully made the transition from the military into the private sector offered an interactive and engaging experience for participants. The day concluded with a networking social – food and beverages provided – which gave participants an opportunity to network with IT professionals and companies who interviewed candidates during the NC4ME hiring event the next day.
Secretary Larry Hall said, “The skills that veterans have are tailored to the needs of these companies. This event is ideal for those seeking employment especially in IT and cybersecurity.”
Day 2, a Hiring Event held at the MetLife Global Technology & Operations Campus in Cary, connected military job seekers and spouses with employers to interview for open positions. Much more than a typical “Job Fair”, NC4ME Hiring Events match registered candidates with the job openings of attending companies based on their skills, certifications, and interests. This give employers direct access to a collection of qualified military candidates and enables participants to arrive ready to conduct interviews.
Questions about this event or future opportunities to be involved, please visit www.nc4me.org or contact James Simpson, at jsimpson@nc4me.org .
About NC4ME
North Carolina for Military Employment (NC4ME) is NC’s comprehensive public-private partnership designed to make North Carolina the #1 state for veteran employment. Established by the NC Governor in 2015, NC4ME brings North Carolina’s workforce offices, employers, veteran service organizations, and military installations together onto a single team to implement a joint strategy for connecting employers with qualified military talent. Its programs educate business leaders on the value of hiring veterans (Leadership Summits), shows human
resource professionals how to assess and hire military candidates, and connects businesses with military talent that can fill their open positions (Hiring Events). By centering its focus on the “demand side” of the employment equation, NC4ME serves as a perfect complement to the vast number of programs currently preparing veterans for civilian employment and gives a much- needed boost to military job seekers in North Carolina.