Jul 20, 2020
As an employer, how do you go about building a successful veteran hiring program at your company? As a veteran, how can you take advantage of these types of programs to put your best foot forward and get hired?
This week, Army Veteran and Head of Military and Veteran Programs at Uber Michael Pett joins FourBlock founder and host Mike Abrams to share his expertise, discuss the components of a successful veteran hiring and retention program, and provide actionable advice to both employers and veterans seeking employment.
Michael joined the US Army in 1998. He was stationed in Schofield Barracks, Hawai’i with the 25th Infantry Division, where he deployed to Iraq from December 2003 through March 2005.
He served as a Casualty Operations Specialist with the 225 Forward Support Battalion. This position required him to be pushed throughout the field of operations to process wounded warriors and local nationals from point of injury to combat support hospitals located in Iraq, Germany, and the United States. After 15 years of active duty service and over 21 years of total service, Michael retired from the Illinois Army National Guard in September of 2019.
After exiting active duty, Michael joined Accenture as the North American Military Recruiting Lead. He worked tirelessly to create new initiatives focusing on the growth and professional development of student veterans, current service members, and spouses. Each tailored program provided candidates with tangible tools required to succeed in the ever-changing corporate climate. In 2016, Michael formalized a sponsorship between Accenture and FourBlock, bringing the program to Chicago.
Now at Uber, Michael serves as the Head of Military and Veteran Programs (MVP), where he has the distinct privilege of standing up the first-ever global military, veteran, and partner hiring program. This program will bring MVP talent into all lines of businesses across Uber in all the mega regions. He is currently building integration and transition tools to ensure all MVP talent has a soft place to land when they get to Uber.
Connect with Michael Pett on LinkedIn and join Uber’s Military, Veteran, and Partner Recruiting group on LinkedIn.
ABOUT US
Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace.
General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat.
But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.
FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.
Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, FourBlock founder, director of the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration, and author of two military transition books. He’ll be representing the military transition perspective.
Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey will be representing the civilian perspective of this issue.
Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/
Over 77% of FourBlock alumni stay at their first jobs over 12 months. Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate.
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