Hiring Our Heroes Teams Up with Salesforce to Help Veterans and Military Spouses Skill Up
Hiring Our Heroes’ mission is to connect transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses with meaningful employment. In the wake of a global pandemic, we are proactively pursuing opportunities that will help them, as well as support our employer partners, in this unprecedented economic time.
Before COVID-19, military spouse unemployment rates were eight times higher than all adult women, while last month, more than one million veterans filed for jobless benefits. Veterans and military spouses overcome obstacles to employment and in a time of uncertainty, the employment landscape will present even more challenges and quite possibly fewer opportunities for all job seekers. That’s why Hiring Our Heroes and Salesforce have teamed up to offer a fellowship program that will provide veterans and military spouses with competitive, marketable skills and experience in Salesforce related roles.
“Hiring Our Heroes is honored to join Salesforce in delivering this innovative experiential learning initiative to equalize opportunity for the military community,” said Eric Eversole, Hiring Our Heroes president and a vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Salesforce certifications provide a unique pathway to meaningful employment with high demand skills and upward mobility to any veteran or military spouse, regardless of previous experience. The 12-week program also supports employers in building skilled and diversified workforces as they recover from an unprecedented economic landscape. We are grateful for Salesforce’s commitment to workforce development and excited to blaze a trail to the future together.”
About the Salesforce Fellowship Program
Launching today, the Salesforce Fellowship Program is a first-in-class initiative that connects veterans and military spouses with 12-week paid experiential learning opportunities. The program provides fellows with training and hands-on experience as Salesforce certified professionals with host companies. This program aims to build a pipeline of talent of veterans and military spouses to fill a rapidly widening digital skills gap.
Candidates are interviewed and matched with host companies after the completion of their Salesforce certification. Fellows then undergo exclusive on-the-job training and networking at their host companies, gaining practical experience as a Salesforce professional.
This skill-building experience prepares fellows for a smooth transition into an in-demand Salesforce career.
This program is a proactive approach to what is only the beginning of the ramifications of the pandemic on military family employment.
“This fellowship will put money directly into the pockets of military families at a time many are experiencing uncertainty,” said Ann Weeby, head of Salesforce Military. “Our customers and partners benefit from incredible talent and our military Trailblazers get valuable work experience – truly a win-win.”
Who Can Participate?
The Salesforce Fellowship Program allows veterans and military spouses to participate in paid, remote, 12-week fellowships at Salesforce partner and customer companies. Those selected for the fellowship gain hands-on experience as certified Salesforce professionals offering a competitive edge to help them prepare for a long-term career.
Any company with a need for Salesforce certified professionals can apply to host a fellow at no cost to their organization. By participating, host companies acquire access to skilled, certified, military community professionals, while also developing a more comprehensive understanding of the veteran and military spouse talent pool.
Applications are now being accepted for the Salesforce Fellowship Program at hiringourheroes.org/salesforce.
More about Salesforce Military
Salesforce Military (formerly Vetforce) offers self-paced training with Trailhead, Salesforce’s free online learning platform, and certification exams at no cost for active duty military, veterans, and military spouses. The effort connects Salesforce’s talented pipeline with partner companies to help grow, strengthen, and diversify their workforces.
Praise for Salesforce Trailhead
“I could not be more grateful for what Salesforce Military has given me and my family… a meaningful career that I can maintain while also supporting my active duty husband in his,” said Ciara Skiles, Senior Consultant, Salesforce Certified, Cirrius Solutions Inc. “Within months of starting on the platform, I was able to secure a well paying, fully remote position with an amazing company that I love. Getting started on Trailhead was the best professional decision I have ever made and would encourage anyone who is interested, regardless of their professional background, to also take that leap.”
In 2019, Salesforce launched the Salesforce Military Alliance to create a larger movement to prioritize and accelerate the interviewing and hiring of veterans and military spouses for Salesforce ecosystem jobs. Since its launch, 20 companies have joined the alliance and are guaranteeing interviews to any veteran or spouse who earns an administrator certification. These companies don’t require a college degree to qualify for an interview. Over 60 veterans and military spouses are now working at Salesforce Military alliance partner companies.
To learn more about Salesforce Military, visit Salesforce.com/military.
