There is new assistance for veterans seeking employment in the Miami-Dade County area, and Henry Woeltjen’s mission is to aid vets in their efforts to obtain employment.
At Career Source, the office where Woeltjen works, veterans are given priority when arriving. They are allowed to enter and access the center’s resources immediately. There are some 10 different centers spread around Miami-Dade County.
Career Source gives veterans access to computers to perform job search activities. It also organizes job fairs and recruitment activities with local employers. For extra help, there are training sessions where case workers assist in preparing resumes and teach use of the Internet.
Woeltjen, who began working with the center in mid-February, specializes in the local veteran population. He has a complex assignment to advocate for veterans by aggressively hunting within the county for available opportunities.
“My job is to go out to companies in the area to get you the job you want,” he said.
He specified that it was necessary to pursue a career path, which is especially difficult for veterans who are used to jumping from one assignment to the next.
He places no limitations on the type of job and will search through local companies as another pair of eyes and ears in the community. He is especially dedicated to veterans who have service-connected disabilities. “Service connected” means that the Department of Veterans Affairs has studied the individual’s case and found that a severe injury which creates a barrier to employment was incurred in the line of duty.
“I work with veterans with serious barriers to employment,” Woeltjen said.
He is accessible and approachable, reaching out to veterans by email or phone. An appointment is scheduled at the veteran’s convenience.
Then, a meeting is scheduled over the phone or in person and Woeltjen begins the hunt for a match.
“I honestly want to help people,” he said.
