The many men and women who have served our country in Iraq and Afghanistan are returning home to a tough economy and may also not have the necessary career skills to succeed in the workplace. IBM realizes that and has joined with American Corporate Partners (ACP) in providing a nationwide career mentoring program for returning veterans.
A New York-based nonprofit, ACP already provides a career development opportunities for veterans who have served on active duty since 2001, as well as spouses of those who have been injured or died while serving. IBM’s contribution to the program will be On Demand Community, an online community volunteer program that gives IBM volunteers access to skills training, technology solutions and searchable volunteer opportunities.
In conjunction with ACP, On Demand Community will provide mentors in five cities across the country — New York; Washington, D.C.; Raleigh/Durham; Denver and San Francisco. These mentors, chosen by ACP staff, will assist veterans in transitioning from their military service to private enterprise, using career counseling and networking. Mentors and proteges will be matched one-on-one, encouraged to meet four hours together monthly and the mentoring commitment lasts a full year, with both individuals encouraged to maintain the relationship for much longer.
You can find out more information and listen to an IBM podcast about the program here.
Photo courtesy of Army.mil, via Flickr.