New online resource for finding veterans

Several branches of the federal government have created an interagency online tool to connect military veterans and employers. The new portal, located at ebenefits.va.gov, includes a section where employers can register to post jobs and search for veteran candidates.

Tips: As a federal contractor, this offers one more option for expanding your outreach to veterans, beyond the required posting with the state employment office. Be sure to save copies of all job postings in case you need to prove your efforts to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

If you decide to use this portal (or any other external resume database such as LinkedIn) to search for potential candidates and consider them for job openings, keep in mind that you have specific recordkeeping obligations. For external databases, the OFCCP’s “Internet applicant” rules require you to retain “a record of the position for which each search of the database was made, and corresponding to each search, the substantive search criteria used, the date of the search, and the resumes of job seekers who met the basic qualifications for the particular position” who you consider for the job. If, however, you only use this search to locate veterans so you can invite them to apply for a position, then running the search is simply a recruitment activity with no specific recordkeeping obligation. This approach allows you to restrict your consideration of candidates to those who complete your normal application process. The Internet applicant rules can be complicated, so if you’re uncertain of your obligations, contact your Vigilant affirmative action representative or learn more about ongoing help with this matter through our Affirmative Action services.