While interning at Google during the fall semester of 2012, GS student-veterans Rich Baldassari and Nick Lozano helped launch VetNet, an innovative online resource hosted on the Google+ platform, designed to help veterans worldwide connect with career opportunities through networking, training, entrepreneurship courses and job listings. Baldassari and Lozano serve as the president and vice-president, respectively, of the U.S. Military Veterans of Columbia University, and were connected to their internships through the student organization, which has a relationship with Carrie Laureno, Google’s Creative Lab group marketing manager and Google Veterans Network founder.
The two describe the experience working for Google as being incredibly meaningful, both as veterans who understand the value of such a resource, and because they were able to work with a group of talented people who encouraged their involvement in nearly every aspect of the project.
"The Google Creative Lab is a very team-oriented atmosphere. The only other place I’ve really experienced that mentality was in the military, where everyone contributes collaboratively to accomplish a mission," Lozano said.
Though their official titles were as marketing management interns, Baldassari and Lozano assisted in several areas, which included partner relations, graphic design, project promotion through social media, reviewing the user experience, and sharing their knowledge as subject matter experts by determining what assistance veterans wanted and how best to deliver that assistance. As a result of the high level of cooperation within the team, the entire project went from conception to launch in a matter of months, with each member striving toward the same goal—to create a convenient, comprehensive career service for veterans.
"It was important to provide a service that was accessible and effective. There are a lot of organizations out there that offer veterans support services, and it becomes a daunting task to seek assistance," Lozano said.
Veterans entering the workforce, who have received extensive training and possess innumerable skills, often struggle with translating those skills to a civilian setting. Numerous organizations exist to assist with this transition, but as explained by Lozano, the process of sifting through them can be overwhelming. The Google+ platform’s "hangout" feature, however, allows veterans, employers, and discussion leaders to seamlessly make meaningful connections, and this level of personal interaction is part of what makes VetNet unique.
"The resume-writing workshops are a great example of the level of interaction available. Any veteran can join a discussion, and while the conversation may start with general resume tips, it may eventually segue into the discussion leader asking participants what specific questions they have about their own resumes, engaging them in a discussion tailored to their needs," Lozano said.
Lozano and Baldassari resumed taking classes full time in the spring semester of 2013, but are still involved with the project. For the next month, they’ll be helping with one final round of training with VetNet’s resource partners, as well as with evaluating the user experience.
Although VetNet is newly launched, the two explain that it’s already showing signs of success.
"People who are checking it out are definitely engaging with it. We’re seeing a lot of repeat users, and we’ve heard from a number of our career contacts that they’ve connected with veterans after meeting them in the Google+ hangouts," Lozano said.
VetNet is the result of the partnership between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, and Hire Heroes USA.
To learn more about VetNet, visit the links below:
"VetNet: new Google tool for unemployed warriors"; MyFox Houston; Nov. 29, 2012
"New Google Resource Aims to Help Military Veterans Become Entrepreneurs"; Entrepreneur; Nov. 29, 2012
"Google to create job search community for veterans"; The Ruptured Duck; Nov. 28, 2012
"Brian Stann's Hire Heroes USA partners with Google for potential 'game changer'"; MMA Junkie; Nov. 28, 2012
"Hiring Our Heroes and Google launch VetNet for transitioning veterans"; Examiner.com; Nov. 28, 2012
"Google helps launch VetNet, a G+ powered hub for veterans and spouses to rebuild their civvy careers"; The Next Web: Nov. 28, 2012
"Google, Chamber of Commerce power career resource for veterans"; The Washington Post; Nov. 28, 2012
"Google Launches 'VetNet' To Help Military Veterans Re-Enter The Civilian Life, With Google+ As The 'Plumbing'"; TechCrunch; Nov. 28, 2012
"Colleges Venture Off Campus to Bridge Military-Civilian Divide"; The Chronicle of Higher Education; Sept. 17, 2012
