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Veteran Services

OESC offers various services help transitioning service members and veterans find the resources and support they need to succeed in today's job market. Eligible veterans and spouses can receive 1-on-1 career counseling and job search assistance, and all veterans receive priority when services or resources are limited.

Tailored Employment Services for Veterans

Military service members, veterans and spouses may be eligible to receive personalized career services available through the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG). The JVSG team, consisting entirely of veterans, who are stationed across the state have received extensive training to help veterans access local, state and federal resources to overcome barriers to employment, as well as how to be successful when searching for work. This includes helping veterans navigate searching, finding and applying for jobs, including federal jobs and connect them with local employers who are hiring. Veterans seeking any support can connect with the veterans services team by visiting an Oklahoma Works office.

Veteran Job Clubs & Hiring Events

Each month, OESC hosts "Veteran Job Clubs" across the state which are smaller more intimate hiring events specifically for veterans and military. Veterans have the opportunity to hear about career opportunities from various companies and then meet with each company one-on-one to review opportunities, match qualifications, ask questions, and/or connect with hiring managers.

For details on upcoming Veteran Job Clubs or other Veteran Job Fairs, visit the Events Calendar page and select the "Veterans - Military Career Fair" category. 

Partner Organizations

Volunteers of America: Oklahoma is the recipient of the Department of Labor's Homeless Veteran Reintegration Program (HVRP) grant, which aims to assist veterans in need with employment services, training and career prep. More information on this program can be found here.

Additional Information

All federal contractors must comply with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and satisfy job listing requirements set forth in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) statute.

To enable developing job orders to support the staffing needs and ensure qualified priority referrals of protected Veterans, please contact the nearest Oklahoma Works office. 

As the law requires, federal contractors and subcontractors shall provide the following information simultaneously with their first job listing, and provide updates, as necessary, simultaneously with the next listing: (1) VEVRAA Federal Contractor; (2) Priority referrals of protected veterans desired; (3) Name and location of each hiring location within the state; and (4) Contact information for the official responsible for hiring at the hiring location and who can verify the information in the job listing.

Once your job order is posted, it is viewable and accessible state-wide to all job seekers. 

One of our employment service specialists’ main duties is to talk to employers about their open positions and how they might be posted on our job bank. All of our services are provided to both employers and job seekers at no cost.  Our goal is to inform employers, such as you, about what we do and the services we offer.

Some Employer Benefits:

  • Online job postings/resume searches
  • Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) information
  • On the Job Training (OJT) opportunities
  • Job Fairs and Hiring Events

Veterans' Preference gives eligible veterans preference in appointment over many other applicants. Veterans' preference applies to all new appointments in the competitive service and many in the excepted service. Veterans' preference does not guarantee veterans a job and it does not apply to internal agency actions such as promotions, transfers, reassignments and reinstatements.

Understanding how veterans' preference works can be a challenge. In accordance with Title 5, United States Code, Section 2108 (5 USC 2108) veterans' preference eligibility can be based on dates of active duty service, receipt of a campaign badge, receipt of a Purple Heart or a service-connected disability. Please know that not all active duty service may qualify for veterans' preference.

Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions are eligible for veterans' preference. Under the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, an individual who has reason to believe they will be entitled to veterans’ preference upon discharge may apply for a position in advance of the discharge and receive consideration as preference eligible if the service member is able to provide certification that they are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions not later than 120 days from the date of the certification. The circumstances of the discharge will be verified at the time of actual appointment.

If a veteran is a "retired member of the armed forces", they are not included in the definition of preference eligible unless they are a disabled veteran OR they retired below the rank of major or its equivalent.

There are basically three types of preference eligibility: sole survivorship (0 point preference eligible), non-disabled (5 point preference eligible) and disabled (10 point preference eligible).

For more information, please visit the website.

Veteran OrganizationS