WATCH: Kijiji Canada has launched an initiative to connect Canadian veterans and potential civilian employers. Rebecca Lau reports.
HALIFAX – Kijiji Canada has launched an initiative to connect Canadian veterans and potential civilian employers.
The online community has updated their website to include a veteran-friendly designation for job postings.
Employers can now mark their listing with the designation to indicate that military veterans will be, “highly-considered for the job”.
“We can bring value back to some veterans and I think we’re in a great position to do that,” said Chris Harris, head of real estate and jobs for Kijiji Canada.
“We really want veterans and employers to come to us and say, “Hey we met on Kijiji” or “I hired this person off of Kijiji. It’s been great.”
Nick Provost retired six months ago after spending 15 years in the military working as a financial clerk and serving in Afghanistan.
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He now works closely with other veterans as part of an outreach program called Porch Light, and has seen first-hand how difficult it can be to obtain new employment.
“There’s life after the military and for some of us, it’s a challenge to find that life after the military,” he said.
“It’s difficult especially for some of us coming out with disabilities. We have a unique set of challenges that if we identify ourselves as veterans, there is a stigma involved in that.”
He also says that veterans’ qualifications don’t always fall into specific categories and can be difficult to describe in a résumé.
“I can set up an office in the middle of the desert without a computer and pay 2,000 soldiers,” he said with a laugh. “So, a unique set of skills.”
Kijiji Canada began a soft launch of their initiative nine days ago, and currently have 1,700 posts with the veteran-friendly designation.
Turris Contractors Atlantic, a construction company based in Waverley, N.S. that maintains communication towers, was among the first to take part.
The company’s office manager says it was clear a veteran would be perfect for the job.
“Especially when it comes to naval officers and naval people,” Ewan Brocklehurst said. “They do a lot of work in rigging, climbing … things like that on the ship and they have that knowledge and ability to work at heights.”
He adds he has a respect for veterans and wants to ensure the company supports them any way they can.
And it appears that respect is mutual.
“To have employers now actively look for veterans, I think it’s a step in the right direction and it’s honourable for them to be able to do that,” Provost said.
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