When Mark Smith retired from the military in 2014 after 20 years of service, he thought he’d have an easy transition to the corporate world. He was entering back into the civilian workforce with experience, security clearance and a bachelor’s degree. After a few rounds of job hunting, however, he realized he had a problem.
“My resume was horrible,” Smith said. “I didn’t know at the time that I should tailor it to the position I was applying to. I’m pretty sure when I sent my résumé in, it ended up in the garbage.”
Today, as the director of transition and employment at Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center in Colorado Springs, Smith is helping veterans and their spouses overcome challenges like those he faced so they can gain meaningful employment. As the home to both Army and Air Force bases, the region has one of the largest veteran populations in the country with nearly 90,000 people living there with military service experience.
Through several programs, Smith and his team work with former service members and their spouses to help them determine career goals, develop resumes, practice interviewing techniques and network for jobs. Mt. Carmel also hosts job fairs, networking events, employer days and job search skills workshops at no cost to clients.
For the business community, especially during a tight talent market, preparing these veterans and their spouses for the job entry process increases the odds of a quality hire.
“Businesses get certain attributes when hiring a veteran or his or her spouse,” Smith said. “They bring education, dedication, leadership, loyalty and resiliency to the workforce. A majority of veterans come out of service with technical expertise, and they have a security clearance, so you know their background is good. You can put a former service member into any position and they’ll find a way to figure it out.”
Spouses, meanwhile, often have logistical and organizational skills because service members frequently move, both within the country and abroad, he said.
The importance of corporate partner support
In addition to employment transition services, Mt. Carmel provides behavioral health and wellness services, connection to community resources and safe event space for veterans, military members and their families.
One major supporter of Mt. Carmel is broadband services provider Comcast. Comcast’s commitment to military engagement is deeply rooted in its culture, going back decades to its founder, U.S. Navy veteran Ralph Roberts.
Comcast and Mt. Carmel have partnered since 2019, including through an investment into Mt. Carmel’s recent expansion to Pueblo and the launch of a local partnership with Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado.
Together, the two organizations have helped military and veteran community members access critical online resources through the company’s Internet Essentials service, which provides low-cost internet service for income-eligible people, or even free service when paired with the federal Affordable Connectivity Program.
Comcast also helps veterans and their families get connected through Lift Zones at community organizations, including at Mt. Carmel. The free Wi-Fi service gives community members internet access for distance learning, job and housing searches and connecting with health care providers. The Lift Zones program is part of Comcast’s Project UP, a $1 billion initiative to reach tens of millions of people with the connectivity, skills, training and resources they need to be ready for anything.
Smith said clients of Mt. Carmel use the Lift Zone to build resumes and search for jobs; workshop participants connect to it to adjust their LinkedIn pages based on what they learn that day.
Comcast also supports Mt. Carmel by hiring its clients. In fact, when Smith placed the organization’s 3,000th client, she went to work for the company.
“A corporate partner like Comcast is vital to our ability to provide tools and resources to our clients so they can take that important next step after their military service ends,” Smith said. “The Lift Zone and access to affordable broadband increases the odds they’ll find good jobs in industries like information technology, cybersecurity or program management.”
A leader in veteran support
Comcast’s commitment to the military community, including hiring, retaining, developing and supporting veterans and their families, earned it a 5 Star Employer designation in the 2023 VETS Indexes Employer Awards, the highest honor. This is the third consecutive year the company earned the award.
“Comcast Cable stands out from the pack as one of the best employers nationwide for veterans, members of the National Guard and Reserves and military spouses,” said George Altman, managing director of VETS Indexes.
“As more and more employers recognize the cutting-edge technical skills and soft skills veterans bring to the workplace, the race to attract military-connected talent gets increasingly competitive. The number of organizations participating in the 2023 VETS Indexes Employer Awards more than doubled since last year — but even in this highly competitive environment, Comcast Cable distinguished itself as a leader among veteran employers and should be commended,” Altman added.
Comcast NBCUniversal has hired more than 20,000 veterans, military spouses and National Guard and Reserve members nationwide since 2015. As part of its ongoing efforts to create a supportive environment for military teammates, the company offers dedicated benefits and programs, such as a military concierge service, guard and reserve leave, differential pay and military spouse transfer assistance. Members of the veteran-focused employee resource group also benefit from continuous mentorship, professional development and networking opportunities.
“We at Comcast are deeply committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the unique talents and experiences of our military-connected teammates,” Mona Dexter, Comcast NBCUniversal’s vice president of military and veteran affairs, said when the award was announced. “Receiving the VETS Indexes 5 Star Employer Award for the third consecutive year not only reaffirms our commitment to those who have served our nation, but it also motivates us to keep pushing boundaries in creating meaningful opportunities for veterans and their families.”
Learn more about Comcast in Colorado at colorado.comcast.com.
