NJDOT highlights Christie Administration’s ongoing efforts to hire veterans
through public-private initiatives

Approximately 200 veterans have been hired to fill various openings in state government agencies since the start of the Christie Administration, including more than 20 at NJDOT.

The Christie Administration is actively working on numerous fronts to help returning veterans land jobs and to connect public and private employers to veterans who represent a talented pool of prospective employees. In addition to hiring veterans, NJDOT supports 16 career employees who currently serve in the military Reserves or National Guard. The Administration’s effort also aims to educate employers about the value and benefits of hiring highly motivated and thoroughly trained individuals.

“The men and women who have protected our freedom as they served our nation deserve the efforts of public and private employers to identify veteran candidates and match them to available job openings,” said NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson. “It is now our turn to serve them and the New Jersey Department of Transportation is proud to fulfill that duty.”

Numerous government and private-sector programs are available to help employers recruit veteran job candidates. NJDOT has worked with the Tip of the Arrow Foundation since November 2011, hiring veterans into such positions as Computer Operator Assistant, Maintenance Worker, Mechanic Helper, Dispatcher, Electrical Mechanic and management positions. The Tip of the Arrow Foundation is a national volunteer organization staffed by experienced career counselors who assist veterans make a successful transition to civilian life.

“Our mission is to help returning veterans turn a page in their lives and land a job that enables them to support themselves and their families,” said Tip of the Arrow Foundation Co-founder Carl Blum. “We work individually with each veteran prepare them for success in the civilian workforce.”

NJDOT also works closely with Mercer County One Stop Career Center's Veteran Services, a division of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

“It is truly gratifying to see the commitment and dedication that has been demonstrated by Governor Christie, his Administration and New Jersey businesses as they assist veterans in the transition from what can be extremely stressful duty to civilian life,” said NJDOT Director of Operations Support Andrew Tunnard, recently retired Military Commander in the United States Navy Reserve.

Earlier this month, Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno and Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Hal Wirths held an ‘Operation Hire a Jersey Hero’ Symposium at Prudential’s headquarters in Newark, focusing on promoting job opportunities for veterans by connecting employers with state resources available to support the hiring of veterans. The Christie Administration created the symposium series after hearing from Garden State employers who sought information on how to recruit veterans and how military skills can be translated into civilian employment.

Through various state departments and outside partners, employers seeking to employ a veteran are offered a wide variety of resources including:

• Registered apprenticeship programs
• Funds for on-the-job training
• Tax credits
• Customized and literacy training grants
• Veteran referral resources