U.S. Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes Program Launches Personal Branding Initiative
Initiative with Toyota and Medal Of Honor Recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer
to Help Veterans and Service Members Better Market Themselves to Employers
MCB QUANTICO, VA—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Chamber Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program, together with Toyota and Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant Dakota Meyer, launched the Personal Branding initiative today to help military veterans and transitioning service members better market themselves to employers. Additionally, Hiring Our Heroes welcomed Toyota into the Chairman’s Circle of its Veterans Employment Advisory Council (VEAC).
“Articulating the skills learned in the military to employers remains one of the greatest challenges for our nation’s newest generation of veterans,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel (Ret.), executive director of the U.S. Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes program. “With Sgt. Dakota Meyer and Toyota’s help, we can make great strides in bridging the gap between veterans and employers. Even as a Medal of Honor recipient, Dakota dealt with many of the same challenges that thousands of transitioning post 9-11 veterans face as they enter the civilian workforce. With Hiring Our Heroes and Toyota providing the platform, Dakota can share his recent transition experiences to help his peers develop their own personal brand. This is about younger veterans telling a compelling story about their military service to potential employers and turning their next interview into a job.”
Hiring Our Heroes and Toyota announced the new initiative before hundreds of military job seekers and dozens of employers at today’s hiring fair at Quantico Marine Base. After interviews by hundreds of younger veterans at hiring fairs, Hiring Our Heroes joined forces with Toyota and Sgt. Meyer to address this critical need. A personal branding guide was developed that will be distributed to hundreds of thousands of veterans at our 400 job fairs nationwide. In addition to being shared at Hiring Our Heroes events, the guide will also be available online as part of a personal branding toolkit with unique versions for members of the Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Force.
“I was a sniper in the U.S. Marine Corps, so I understand firsthand how hard translating a military skill to a civilian skill can be,” said Sgt. Dakota Meyer. “Our country has been served by people who make the best employees – where qualities like loyalty, commitment, and hard work are not only required, but honored. Since my return from service, I’ve been very passionate about doing what I can to help veterans. I believe this partnership with Toyota and Hiring Our Heroes will take those efforts to the next level. I’m excited to be involved and look forward to spreading the word to veterans across the country.”
In March 2011, the Chamber, in conjunction with the National Chamber Foundation, launched its Hiring Our Heroes program, a nationwide effort to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. The Chamber started the program to improve public-private sector coordination in local communities, where veterans and their families are returning every day. To date, Hiring Our Heroes has hosted more than 230 hiring fairs in 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, helping more than 10,400 veterans and military spouses find employment.
The National Chamber Foundation (NCF), a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is dedicated to identifying and fostering public debate on emerging critical issues. They provide business and government leaders with insight and resources to address tomorrow's challenges.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.