Department of Social and Health Services launches new military skills job-search tool

Veterans or those leaving military service have a new tool to use when searching for employment with Washington state.

The “Military Skills Translator” is an easy-to-navigate search engine being provided by the state Department of Social and Health Services. Users enter their branch of service and military operations code to look for employment opportunities at all Washington state agencies that match their skills and expertise. The translator was developed by the Department of Social and Health Services.

“It is so wonderful that we can release this tool so close to Veterans Day,” DSHS Secretary Cheryl Strange said in a Nov. 9 news release. “DSHS is committed to hiring veterans for the many fine qualities and skills they bring to the workforce. This tool will help them find where they can put their experience to good use.”

Officials say credit for this new tool goes to Ben Lloyd, senior recruiter with DSHS’ Human Resources Division who had the vision for the project and identified resources to make it happen, and Ben Hitchcock, an HRD Human Resources Information Systems Data Analyst who built the translator tool.