Steven Weston | Verizon Wireless | 001

A HIRED CALLING!

Summary

In this conversation, Derek interviews Steven Weston, a recruiter at Verizon and an Air Force veteran. They discuss Steven's experience transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce, the importance of taking care of one's health, and the hiring programs available for veterans. Steven shares insights on the Hiring Our Heroes program and the SkillBridge program, which provide opportunities for transitioning service members to gain experience and find meaningful careers. He also emphasizes the importance of tailoring resumes to match job descriptions and highlights the value of networking platforms like LinkedIn in finding veteran talent. Steven mentions the Thrive program at Verizon, which offers internship opportunities for individuals transitioning into new professions. Finally, he discusses the use of AI in recruiting at Verizon. In this conversation, Steven Weston discusses the use of AI in recruiting and job search, the importance of using the 'Open to Work' banner on LinkedIn, and the value of showcasing military medals on resumes. He also shares advice for transitioning service members and highlights the Career Forward program offered by Hiring Our Heroes. The conversation concludes with Steven announcing his transition to a new marketing manager role at Verizon.

Keywords

Steven Weston, Verizon, Air Force veteran, transitioning, health care, Hiring Our Heroes, SkillBridge, resumes, job descriptions, networking, Thrive program, AI, recruiting, AI, recruiting, job search, LinkedIn, Open to Work, military medals, transitioning service members, Career Forward, Hiring Our Heroes, marketing manager, Verizon

Takeaways

• It is important for veterans to prioritize their health and seek medical care when needed, without fear of negative consequences in their civilian careers.
• The Hiring Our Heroes program and the SkillBridge program provide valuable opportunities for transitioning service members to gain experience and find meaningful careers in the civilian workforce.
• Tailoring resumes to match job descriptions is crucial in highlighting relevant skills and experiences to hiring managers.
• Networking platforms like LinkedIn are valuable resources for finding veteran talent and building professional relationships.
• The Thrive program at Verizon offers internship opportunities for individuals transitioning into new professions.
• AI is being used in recruiting at Verizon to search for candidates and streamline the hiring process. AI tools like LinkedIn Recruiter and chat GPT can be valuable in the recruiting and job search process
• Using the 'Open to Work' banner on LinkedIn can help recruiters easily identify and reach out to candidates
• Including military medals on resumes should be done strategically and with consideration for the civilian audience
• Transitioning service members should keep an open mind, seek mentorship, and be willing to learn from others
• The Career Forward program offered by Hiring Our Heroes provides professional certifications and fellowship opportunities for veterans who have been out of the military for an extended time
• Communication with leadership is key to navigating the SkillBridge program and securing approval for participation

Titles

• The Role of AI in Recruiting at Verizon
• The Importance of Prioritizing Health Care The Career Forward Program for Veterans
• Advice for Transitioning Service Members

Sound Bites

• "In corporate America, it's okay to go to the doctor. It's okay to make sure you're taking care of yourself and it's important to take care of yourself."
• "Hiring Our Heroes is a Department of Defense program that enables transitioning service members to engage with Fortune 500 employers and local employers for internship opportunities to help them transition and find meaningful careers after service."
• "There are transferable skills, no matter what job you did in the military, that civilian companies are looking for. It's knowing how to identify those skills, identify them in the job descriptions, and then work to make your resume speak to those skills."
• "We do use LinkedIn Recruiter. And of course, anybody who's familiar with LinkedIn Recruiter knows that they have some AI processes built into that platform."
• "You can use AI to build a resume. But you should still, once that finished product comes, you should bump it up next to that job description and make sure you're hitting everything that you need to hit."
• "I get a little frustrated sometimes because I see other folks on the platform that are, you know, especially like for like our military spouses, you know, they have a 20% plus unemployment rate. They're telling them, well, don't put that you're a spouse on your resume. Don't put that you're a spouse on your LinkedIn profile. Don't use the banner."