With Veterans Day coming this Sunday, Edward Jones announced that it had hired 300 military veterans as financial advisors so far in 2012. These 300 new positions add to the roughly 1,300 veterans that Edward Jones has already employed in an advisory role.
Headquartered in St. Louis, the financial services firm on Friday released a video that encourages military veterans to seek employment opportunities at Edward Jones:
"Hiring military veterans is a part of the Edward Jones culture and heritage and not simply viewed as a corporate initiative," said Jim Weddle, managing partner of Edward Jones, in a statement. "It's no secret that the labor force and overall economic climate is making it difficult for veterans to successfully find civilian employment opportunities. The message we want to send is that financial services is a viable option that not only aligns with, but greatly complements, a military veteran's skill set."
In May, Edward Jones launched FORCES, a nationwide program that provides training and a compensation package designed for veterans who want to transfer to a civilian career. The program is structured to allow eligible veterans to seek G.I. Bill benefits if they desire, but it is not mandatory for program participation.
The amount of the benefit available is determined by the Veterans Administration and is paid directly to the VA during the veteran's initial six months of employment and training with Edward Jones. Edward Jones does not receive any direct or indirect benefit from the veteran who receives a GI Bill benefit.
Veterans interested in learning more about the Edward Jones can find more on the Edward Jones career recruitment site. Veterans looking to check on their entitlement may phone the VA's toll-free number, 1.888.442.4551, or visit its website.
