Why is veteran unemployment so high - struggling to understand NYS Department of Labor job search requirements
I'm a veteran who's been filing weekly claims with NYS Department of Labor for 8 weeks now and I keep hearing about how veteran unemployment rates are terrible. I've been doing the required job searches but employers seem hesitant to hire vets. The job search log requirements are confusing too - do I need to prove I'm applying to jobs that match my military experience or can I branch out? My adjudication finally cleared last month but now I'm worried about maintaining eligibility. Has anyone else noticed this pattern with veteran hiring? What am I missing here?
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James Martinez
Veteran unemployment is complex - employers often don't understand how military skills translate to civilian roles. For your NYS Department of Labor job search requirements, you need 3 valid job contacts per week but they don't have to match your exact military background. Document everything in your job search log including company name, position, date applied, and method of contact. The key is showing you're actively seeking work that you're qualified for.
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Chloe Boulanger
•Thanks, that helps clarify the job search rules. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to only apply for jobs that exactly matched my MOS or if I could explore different fields.
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Olivia Harris
its not just you man, same problem here. been out 6 months and companies keep saying im overqualified or they dont get my experience. the unemployment office doesnt really help with the transition stuff either
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Alexander Zeus
•Have you tried the NYS Department of Labor's veteran services? They have specific programs for translating military experience and connecting with veteran-friendly employers. It's worth checking if your local One-Stop center has a veteran representative.
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Alicia Stern
I've been dealing with this for months and honestly the system feels broken for veterans. I had issues reaching anyone at NYS Department of Labor to discuss my specific situation until I found this service called Claimyr at claimyr.com - they help you get through to actual agents instead of waiting on hold forever. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI that shows how it works. Helped me finally talk to someone about veteran job search accommodations.
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Chloe Boulanger
•Interesting, I'll check that out. I've been trying to call for weeks about whether my job search activities count if I'm networking with veteran organizations.
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Gabriel Graham
•Does that actually work though? Seems too good to be true getting through to NYS Department of Labor that easily.
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Drake
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIGGED AGAINST VETERANS! Employers get tax credits for hiring us but they still won't do it. Meanwhile NYS Department of Labor makes us jump through hoops with job searches for positions that don't even exist. It's like they want us to fail so they can cut us off benefits.
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Sarah Jones
•I feel your frustration but there are employers who do value veteran experience. The challenge is finding them and presenting your skills in civilian terms.
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Gabriel Graham
Same boat here. What's really frustrating is when you explain your military background and they just stare at you blankly. Like being a logistics coordinator in the Army doesn't translate to supply chain management somehow??
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James Martinez
•That's exactly the translation problem. Consider revising your resume to use civilian terminology - 'logistics coordinator' instead of your military job title, 'managed supply operations for 200+ personnel' instead of unit-specific language. Many veterans find success once they bridge that communication gap.
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