Washington ESD - why is veteran unemployment so high in our state?

That makes sense. My MOS was pretty specialized and I'm struggling to explain how it applies to civilian work on applications.

Have you tried the veteran employment representative at your local WorkSource office? They're supposed to help with translating military experience.

Yeah the rent prices are insane. Even with unemployment benefits it's barely covering my basic expenses.

This is why so many vets end up having to move out of state. Washington talks a big game about supporting veterans but the reality is different.

Interesting, I'll look into that. I've been trying to call Washington ESD for days about my claim status with no luck.

Wait, is this a paid service? I'm already struggling financially and don't want to spend money just to talk to someone at ESD.

I understand the concern about costs when money's tight. The main value is saving time instead of spending hours redialing. But definitely check if there are free resources first through veteran services.

Good point about the federal contractor cycle. I've seen whole teams of veterans get laid off when contracts don't renew.

That's exactly what happened to me actually. Defense contractor job ended when they lost the contract renewal.

I haven't but that sounds helpful. Do I need to be disabled to use that service or is it available to all veterans?

DVOP is primarily for disabled veterans but there are also Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERs) for all veterans. Both can help with job search requirements for your UI claim.

The LVER at my WorkSource office was amazing. She helped me understand how to count veteran networking events toward my job search activities for my weekly claims.

Same here! I've been collecting UI for months and just learned about veteran-specific job search resources last week.

What exactly is veteran priority of service? I haven't heard of this at all.

It means veterans get priority access to employment and training services at WorkSource offices. You should have been told about this when you registered for services.

This is so true. I managed millions of dollars in equipment and personnel in the military but employers act like I have no management experience.

Yes! I had security clearance and handled sensitive information but somehow that doesn't seem to impress civilian HR departments.

How long did it take for them to connect you? I've been trying the regular ESD number for weeks.

Much faster than calling directly. The regular ESD lines are always jammed but this got me through to someone who could actually help with veteran claim issues.

Rural areas definitely have it tough. Limited public transit makes it harder to get to WorkSource offices for veteran services too.

I'm in a smaller city and there's basically one WorkSource office for a huge area. Hard to get personalized help.

I went to one of their job fairs last year. It was okay but mostly entry-level positions. Not great if you're looking for something that matches your military leadership experience.

The DVA programs work better in combination with WorkSource services. They complement each other rather than replace Washington ESD requirements.

I hadn't thought about apprenticeships. Do those programs work with Washington ESD if you're collecting unemployment?

Yes, you can usually continue collecting UI while in an approved training program. Just need to get Washington ESD approval first.

The electrician apprenticeship program in Seattle has reserved spots for veterans. Might be worth looking into.

This is huge. I know veterans who are qualified for jobs but struggle in interview situations due to anxiety or other issues.

Good point. The transition from military structure to civilian workplace culture is harder than people realize.

Number 3 is exactly what I'm worried about. My work history looks weird because of deployments and PCS moves.

If you get stuck in adjudication, document everything about your military service dates and be prepared to explain gaps. Washington ESD adjudicators don't always understand military employment patterns.

This is another situation where being able to actually talk to an ESD agent can make a huge difference. They can explain adjudication issues better than the automated messages.

Veteran organizations like VFW and American Legion can help with networking but they're not always focused on employment specifically.

I should probably get more involved in veteran groups. Been kind of isolated since getting out.

I've looked at USAJobs but the application process seems really complicated. Any tips?

It is complicated but worth it. Make sure you claim all your veteran preference points and really detail your military experience in the federal resume format.

Yeah I got out at probably the worst possible time economically. Bad timing all around.

At least Washington ESD extended benefit periods during economic downturns. That helps bridge the gap while looking for the right opportunity.

This is so frustrating. I was responsible for way more in the military than most civilian supervisory roles require, but I don't have the civilian credentials they want.

Exactly! I feel like I'm either overqualified or underqualified for everything, never just qualified.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. This thread has been more helpful than anything I've found on the official Washington ESD website. Going to look into several of these suggestions.

Good luck! Don't get discouraged - the veteran unemployment problem is real but there are resources available if you know where to look.