A recent report shows the pandemic is leading to an uptick in veteran joblessness.
The veterans’ unemployment rate nearly doubled from this time last year, according to the Department of Labor’s August jobs report. MVPvets, a local nonprofit organization that assists and prepares transitioning military veterans for meaningful employment in life science companies, launched a new virtual training series to address the need for pathways to employment.
Virtual academy for biotechnology career fields
The Academy kicked off in August and runs for six weeks. Members of the cohort meet for weekly two-hour training sessions with a personal mentor that will help them set personal job placement goals and give them the skills to find a post-service career that is fulfilling and secure.
Mentors work with each veteran to update their resume, create a digital footprint — including LinkedIn strategies, strategies for networking digitally and in-person, as well as video interviewing tips and techniques. At the end of the course, veterans will present a job search plan. They will also have the opportunity to present themselves at the MedTech Conference via digital networking in October.
Retired Army Col. Gregory Gadson, a new MVPvets board member, understands how to successfully transition to the civilian workforce. The longtime Army officer was injured in a 2007 IED explosion in Iraq and has since served as Director of the United States Army Wounded Warrior Program and founded a management consulting business, Patriot Strategies, LLC, according to a press release.
“I am excited to be a part of an organization that is adapting its programs virtually to meet the needs of transitioning service members. The Academy and MedTech Conference will help MVPvets in its mission to connect military veterans with engaged mentors and careers in the medical device and life science industries,” Gadson said.
The organization focuses on job placement in the fields of life science and medical devices, connecting veterans to opportunities. MVPvets has partnered with almost 100 life science and medical device companies and are endorsed by Advanced Medical Technology Association — the world’s largest medical technology trade association.
Biotechnology is a great career field for veterans
The field of biomedicine continues to climb, making it a promising career path for military veterans. In fact, the growth of the biotechnology industry hasn’t declined in the past five years. And veterans, especially those with a medical- or engineering-based MOS are uniquely qualified for life science and medical device fields. The prior experience and knowledge of engineering and basic medical training that nearly all service members receive are a great pathway to success in these fields.
The field of biomedicine is expected to increase by 7% from 2018 to 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is “faster than the average for all occupations. Continued growth in biotechnology and medical research is expected to increase demand for these workers.”
And the median rate of pay for careers in biotechnology was $45,860 in May 2019. Many biotechnology positions require a bachelor’s degree in biology or a closely related field, as well as laboratory experience through an internship or your school’s program.
Although MVPvets’ first cohort has already begun, interested parties can email MVPvets to be put on an information list for upcoming cohorts and programs.
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