By Larry Dandridge
The last three articles I wrote for The Island News were on VA careers and employment assistance. Although I mentioned in past articles that SC WORKS is an excellent place for military members, veterans, and their family members to get employment assistance, this article and my next article will go into more detail about SCWorks.org.
SCWorks.org is a source of help for job seekers, employers, and those looking to advance their careers. The SCWorks.org webpage is found at https://scworks.org. Through the SC Works Center, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, the S.C. Department of Social Services, the Commission of the Blind, Adult Education, and the S.C. Department of Vocational Rehabilitation leverage the state’s workforce system by providing services such as career guidance, job referrals, and testing and training to meet the needs of job seekers, employers and those looking to further their careers. Specifically, SCWorks.org provides:
- Job Seekers: Representatives in the SC Works Centers help match individuals to jobs and provide education and training through partnerships and initiatives.
- Employers: SC Works offers assistance finding skilled workers, information about qualifying for tax credits, instructions on how to pay your unemployment tax, and more.
- Workforce Partners: The SC Works system supports collaboration and partnerships throughout the state to build a skilled workforce.
There is a SCWORKS Center and Connection Point in all 46 SC counties. According to SC WORKS Veteran Services’ webpage found at https://bit.ly/3WncwO4, SC Works Centers across the state have a trained and dedicated staff, many of whom are veterans or service members themselves, who are specifically trained to assist military job seekers find civilian employment.
Through SC Works Centers and Connection Points, military members, veterans, and their dependents can access a variety of workforce services. The SC Works Centers and Connection Points are organized into 12 groups, and the three groups along the SC coastline include the Lowcountry group, the Trident group, and the Waccamaw group.
- SC Lowcountry (Group) Works Centers include re-employment services for job seekers, partner services, business services, and resource rooms for use when filing for unemployment benefits or searching for work online. The Beaufort, S.C. Work Center is located at 164 Castle Rock Road, Beaufort, S.C. 29901, Phone: 843-524-3351. The Hampton Work Center is located at 54 Tech Circle, Varnville, S.C. 29944, Phone: 843-266-9254. The Colleton Work Center is located at 1085 Thunderbolt Drive, Walterboro, S.C. 29488, Phone: 843-538-1613
- SC Lowcountry (Group) Connection Points include free public access to computers and tools to guide jobseekers through the job search process. SC Works Connection Points are located in the Beaufort County Library Beaufort Branch, the Beaufort County Library Bluffton Branch, the Beaufort County Library Hilton Head Branch, the Beaufort County Library Lobeco Branch, the Beaufort County Library St. Helena Branch, the Edisto Beach Library, the Colleton County Memorial Library, the Hampton County Library, the Estill Public Library, the Pratt Memorial Library, the Hardeeville Community Library, and the Cottageville Library. Learn more about SC Works Centers at https://scworks.org/centers.
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) representatives
DVOP representatives provide intensive case management services to targeted veterans with an emphasis on meeting the employment needs of veterans who are economically or educationally disadvantaged.
Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives (LVER)
LVER Representatives conduct employer outreach to help veterans gain employment and provide individualized job development services to veterans. They market job-seeking veterans as individuals who have highly valuable skills and experience. They also serve as advocates for veterans with businesses and other community-based organizations.
Through the support and assistance from our LVERs and DVOPs, veterans can receive priority employment services, which include group and individual career coaching, job referrals, resume preparation, and job training programs and services.
SC Works Online
Veterans not only receive priority service in SC Works Centers but also through SC Works Online Services found at https://bit.ly/44nkA2Z, for the first 24 hours that a job is listed on SCWOS, only jobseekers who have identified themselves as a member of the military community can view and apply for the position.
At the webpage https://bit.ly/44nkA2Z, veterans can link to how to use this site, resources for individuals, work search guide, veterans’ portal, and many more helpful sites. You can get a SC Works Mobile App at Google Play and from the Apple App Store. There is also a “work from home” button and an “apprenticeship” Button at the SC Works Online page. Learn more about SC Works Online Services https://bit.ly/44nkA2Z.
Additional SCWORKS Veterans Resources
Veterans Portal: The SC Works Veterans Portal at https://bit.ly/3xW3mh7 is a collection of resources that provides services for veterans, transitioning service members, and eligible spouses to obtain employment. At this portal, veterans can search for jobs by keyword or by Military Occupational Specialty and geographical area.
Department of Labor: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) serves America’s veterans and separating from service members by preparing them for meaningful careers, providing employment resources and expertise, and protecting their employment rights. To visit the DOL webpage, at https://bit.ly/3y27FI0.
Department of Veterans Affairs: The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs administers benefits for veterans, their dependents, and survivors. The VA provides careers and employment services (see https://bit.ly/43YEa5K), inpatient and outpatient medical care, and burial in national cemeteries. VBA Regional offices administer disability compensation, pension, home loan guarantees, vocational rehabilitation, educational benefits, life insurance, and burial benefits. For more information, contact the VBA Regional Office near you. Find your closest VBA Regional Office at https://bit.ly/4dbvpt4.
SC Department of Veteran Affairs (SCDVA): The SCDVA only lists resources directly linked to South Carolina government agencies, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA), or SCDVA partner agencies and SC Veteran service organizations. The SCDVA “Employment” webpage is found at https://scdva.sc.gov/employment. At this site, veterans can find: “Federal Jobs at SC Military Installations, ready-to-hire jobs, Careers at SCDVA, and other employment resources for veterans.
Continued next week.
Larry Dandridge is a Vietnam War wounded warrior, disabled veteran, ex-Enlisted Infantryman, ex-Warrant Officer Pilot, and retired Lt. Colonel. He is a past Veterans Service Officer, a Patient Adviser at the RHJ VA Hospital, the Fisher House Charleston Good Will Ambassador, and the VP for Veteran Affairs for the local Army Association Chapter. Larry is the author of the award-winning book Blades of Thunder and a contributing free-lance writer with the Island News. Contact him at LDandridge@earthlink.net or 843-276-7164.
