This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hosted a two-day hiring event intended to hire hundreds of veterans for mission critical and support positions. The recruitment event, titled “Continue Your Service to America,” was attended by thousands of veterans from each branch of the military. DHS is a leader among federal agencies in employing veterans, and is third only behind the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs in the number of veterans hired each year.

During the event, Under Secretary for Management (USM) Claire Grady provided remarks to an audience of potential DHS employees. “Hiring veterans is a top priority for the Department,” said USM Grady. “DHS is committed to providing veterans an opportunity to continue their service to America. Veterans are a proven, highly- trained, and highly-talented group of individuals, and we look forward to welcoming new employees hired from this event to the Department of Homeland Security.”

Under Secretary for Management Claire Grady meets with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recruiters at the “Continue Your Service America” veterans hiring event. (Photo Credit: Barry Bahler)

DHS recruiters meet with veterans in Washington, DC. (Photo Credit: Barry Bahler.)

A K-9 recruiter takes a stretch break. (Photo Credit: Barry Bahler)

Participants say the Pledge of Allegiance. (Photo Credit: Barry Bahler)

Customs and Border Protection Recruitment sign. (Photo Credit: Barry Bahler)

An ICE recruiter talks to a job candidate. (Photo Credit: Barry Bahler)

This hiring event supports recent Executive Orders mandating a hiring surge for personnel who secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws. Veterans currently make up 27.9 percent of the Department’s workforce – higher than the government-wide average of 25 percent. The Department also boasts a 70 percent increase in hiring veterans with disabilities since 2009. This year, DHS embarked on an innovative campaign to hire veterans through resume mining. Hiring managers and HR specialists used USAJOBS to mine resumes of veteran candidates using key words for the skills and experience that meet the Department’s current hiring needs. To ensure veterans knew how to upload their resumes and make them searchable, the Department conducted numerous webinars, with more than 4,000 veterans participating.

Additional information on the outcome of the hiring fair will be released at a later date.

For information on job opportunities at DHS visit: https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers.

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