I find great fulfillment in my job as Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Comcast, but reserve a special passion for the part of my role focused on helping fellow veterans find jobs as they enter the civilian workforce. Transition from service in the military to civilian life can be exciting, overwhelming and challenging all at the same time. At Comcast and NBCUniversal, we understand this dynamic and are committed to easing this transition for our veteran employees and reservists returning from active duty.
We have long recognized that veteran hires bring exceptional strengths to the business and actively recruit prospective employees with military backgrounds. Together, we share the values of leadership, service, teamwork and ethics that are instilled in so many veterans. We are proud to have veterans working across all levels of the company – from the service center to the c-suite – in careers such as network engineering, operations, theme parks and resorts, programming, customer service, marketing, and human resources. It is estimated that in the next five years, approximately 1 million servicemembers will be leaving the military, and Comcast is committed to helping them find jobs as they enter the civilian workforce. Since 2012, Comcast and NBCUniversal have hired over 2,500 veterans, including more than 300 in the first quarter of 2014 alone.
During Armed Forces Week, please join us for a social media "Talk Back with the Expert" with Comcast and NBCUniversal on May 21 from 1 - 2 p.m. ET on NBCUniversal’s Facebook and Twitter sites. We have also been hosting Veteran Open Houses at several of our locations around the country. Events in Miami and Atlanta were held earlier this week, and we will be hosting a Veteran Open House Career Fair in Plymouth, MI from 9 to noon at 4112 Concept Drive, Plymouth, MI. Additionally, we will be participating in the City of Philadelphia’s Veterans Fair on May 21, as well as offering opportunities to talk to Comcast recruiters at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's "Hiring our Heroes" Job Fairs at several locations around the country including Somerville, NJ on June 18th. NBCUniversal will also partner with the New York Giants at the Meadowlands on July 18th for a job fair as part of WNBC’s Health Expo.
Beyond our ongoing efforts to attract and hire veterans, we support a range of programs and initiatives aimed at expanding employment opportunities for veterans in all sectors of our workforce. Comcast and NBCUniversal developed a military-focused microsite designed to engage veterans and assist them in identifying career opportunities at Comcast. The site features an overview of our commitment to hiring veterans, a job search application, tools and resources, and a multi-media experience showcasing Comcast veteran community-based partnerships and awards.
Additionally, NBC News and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation launched a jobs and education resource portal to connect veterans and their families with up-to-date tools and information to help them in their transition after returning home from military service. The centralized hub features the best resources from leading industry partners, in addition to NBC News features, and family, spouse and community resources.
Another great resource for veterans was also recently released by NBC Publishing – a free enhanced eBook and guide for veterans called Heroes Get Hired: How to Use Your Military Experience to Master the Interview.
On behalf of Comcast and NBCUniversal, on Armed Forces Day (and every day), we would like to thank the millions of servicemembers and veterans who have served our country.