Veterans get hiring boost with online courses, networking

[nitpicker]

http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans-get-hiring-boost-with-online-courses-networking-1.313452

Veterans get hiring boost with online courses, networking

By C.J. Lin
Stars and Stripes
Published: November 10, 2014

ARLINGTON, Va. — Veterans looking for a job will now get an extra boost via new and free education and networking perks, first lady Michelle Obama announced Monday as part of the administration’s efforts to get more troops hired after they leave the military.
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To improve their prospects for being hired, all veterans are now eligible for a free certificate for select courses on Coursera, an online site where users can take college courses in a variety of topics, Obama said during a keynote address to the Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Foundation. The courses range from data science and cybersecurity to entrepreneurship and health care.

Coursera is also partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs to launch 20 “learning hubs” around the country — physical centers that would offer online access and support for veterans on the job hunt.

After completing a Coursera course, veterans can upload the certificate to online job networking giant LinkedIn, which will also be offering a free one-year premium subscription that would otherwise cost about $360 a year. The subscription will allow the veterans to appear as featured applicants to potential employers, and will allow the vets to access training materials tailored for those who served in the military and contact anyone on the network.
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LinkedIn will also be integrated with the Veterans Employment Center, the online database system the VA launched this year to help veterans connect with employers. Veterans will be able to upload their VEC profile to LinkedIn, as well as access resources specifically for veterans.
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The announcements came as part of a female veterans career development forum held at the women’s memorial at Arlington National Cemetery ahead of Veterans Day. The event was a follow-up to a private roundtable in July in which Obama met with five female veterans to discuss challenges they faced in finding civilian jobs after leaving the military.
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For more information, visit http://veterans.linkedin.com, www.coursera.org or www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/jobs