Connecting
Transitioning Service Members
to
Civilian SkillBridge Opportunities
From the official DoD SkillBridge website:
"The DoD SkillBridge program is an opportunity for service members to gain valuable civilian work experience...during the last 180 days of service....
For service members SkillBridge provides an invaluable chance to work and learn in civilian career areas...
For industry partners SkillBridge is an opportunity to access and leverage the world’s most highly trained and motivated workforce..."
DoD SkillBridge is a revolutionary program with unmatched potential and there has been an explosive growth in workforce-driven programs since 2019.
But we know that employers have so many questions. Our goal is to enable employers. Why? Because we believe that enabling employers is key to opening new opportunities for transitioning service members.
Note: SkillBridge is a Department of Defense program. The Department of Defense and Service Departments do not endorse any company, sponsor, or their products or services.
Employers, How Can We Best Support Your SkillBridge Efforts?
SkillBridge: Activated by Industry
We've been tracking the number of new programs as listed on the DoD SkillBridge website and the interest from employers is dramatic.
Industry thought-leaders are critical to go-forward advancement of the program.
How Employers Can Participate in SkillBridge
There are two main ways for employers to participate, each requiring various resourcing. Each employer should evaluate their unique business situation to determine how best to navigate.
Any industry partner interested establishing a SkillBridge program should apply directly via the Industry Partners/Employers section of the official DoD SkillBridge website.
FREE PDF Overview for All Interested Employers
FREE Opportunity Sharing for SkillBridge Providers
"What are ALL the SkillBridge opportunities currently available in [city, state] for [functional area] across all programs?"
This is the most common question we hear from service members. Today, there is no easy way to answer that.
"How can I update & share out my most up-to-date SkillBridge opportunities with service members?"
And this is the most common question we hear from DoD-authorized SkillBridge partners.
OUR SOLUTION
We believe that collaboration is key to answer both of these questions.
Via 50strong SkillBridgeConnect, we offer no-cost inclusion of any SkillBridge opportunity at the CITY-LEVEL shared by any DoD-authorized SkillBridge to support easy navigation for service members. We drive traffic to this page daily and include direct routing to your intake method of choice.
Basically, we offer free outreach support to you.
Note: enhanced User Interface coming in Aug/Sept 2022 with easy filtering for service members AND real-time updates for all SkillBridge partners that are utilizing this resource!
We also use this info to extend invites to our monthly SkillBridgeConnect networking events!! We hope you'll this collaborative, industry-led effort valuable to your efforts!!
New Mobile-Ready, Filter-Ready User Interface
COMING SOON!
Current Opportunity Sharing
Q&A Events with SkillBridge Thought-Leaders
We are honored to partner with industry thought-leaders that are working hard to share their experience and expertise in an effort to help other employers utilize the SkillBridge program.
Cushman & Wakefield's lead discussing impact of SkillBridge to veteran employment
Clario Appraisal Network sharing how SkillBridge is their first military outreach program as a small employer with unique industry certification & workforce needs
The SkillBridge leader at Lowe's discussing the importance of aligning SkillBridge with full-time opportunities
Chris Thorne of Chris Thorne Consulting before U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs
Recent article on LinkedIn from Matt Disher discussing what's needed to advance the SkillBridge program
SkillBridge article in the Summer 2020 volume of the Employee Relations Law Journal highlighted by Chris Thorne Consulting
Dedicated Consulting Support
Need more dedicated support for establishing a program, advice on working with a 3rd party, etc? We work hard to provide as much transparent access to information as possible and we encourage all interested industry partners to take advantage of what is readily available on the DoD SkillBridge website and here.
Our team does do 1:1 consulting on an as-needed basis. We also partner with several trusted colleagues that also offer SkillBridge consulting services. Please feel free to reach out directly.
Chris Thorne
specializing in SkillBridge enablement, California HR Law Compliance, Veterans and military spouse engagement and retention, Veteran & military-related marketing & branding, SHRM and HRCI continuing education and recertification
3rd Party SkillBridge Collaboration
For those employers that may be looking for an easy "onramp to SkillBridge" or that don't have the resources to establish their own SkillBridge program yet or that are waiting on their own DoD application process, please consider beginning your SkillBridge journey via a DoD-authorized 3rd party "facilitator' program.
50strong is an authorized 3rd party SkillBridge provider (50strong and DoD signed a Memorandum of Understanding for SkillBridge authorization in June 2020). However, due to the hands-on approach that is needed and the small size of our organization, we can only open opportunities on a VERY limited basis at this time.
Instead we have recently announced a collaboration with TEKsystems to support even more employers!