Supporting Veterans in Finding Employment: A SCORE Bucks County Initiative
SCORE Bucks County Mentor Helps Veterans Navigate Employment Challenges
Bucks County, PA – Transitioning from military service to civilian life can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to finding suitable employment. Norm Phillips, a mentor with SCORE Bucks County, has been working tirelessly to help veterans overcome this challenge.
Phillips shared the story of a client who applied to over 100 positions and did not receive a single response. This is a common struggle for many veterans, with research showing that two-thirds of them find finding employment to be the greatest challenge in transitioning to post-military life.
However, Phillips discovered that veterans excel as small business owners, with 80 percent of veteran-owned businesses considering themselves successful. With this in mind, he has developed a Veterans Small Business Resource Guide to serve as a pathway for mentoring sessions with veterans.
The resource guide includes webinars, courses, grants, loans, and certifications specifically tailored for veterans. Phillips believes that starting a business presents different challenges compared to seeking employment as an employee, making it a more viable option for many veterans.
Having worked in pharmaceutical marketing for 47 years, Phillips is currently mentoring five veterans and plans to share his insights with many more. He is also collaborating with veterans organizations, community colleges, and universities to offer SCORE’s mentoring services to former military members.
The pilot program initiated by SCORE Bucks County has garnered interest from other chapters regionally and nationally. If successful, the program could be expanded to benefit veterans across the country.
For those interested in learning more, they can contact [email protected] or request a mentor through SCORE’s website. SCORE has been helping aspiring entrepreneurs since 1964, providing mentoring and workshops to over 375,000 small businesses annually.
With over 70 members in Bucks and Eastern Montgomery counties, SCORE Bucks County offers over 4,300 free mentoring services each year. To stay updated on news and events, individuals can join SCORE Bucks County’s email list by texting SCOREBUCKS to 22828.
