CareerBuilder.com, the U.S.'s largest online job site, announced it is launching a nationwide initiative in conjunction with federal and state government organizations to help veterans find jobs. Together, they created OperationHeroforHire.com, a special job site that enables employers who want to recruit veterans to post their jobs for free. The site enables veterans to quickly identify employers who are sensitive to their employment needs and apply for positions in a variety of fields and locations in real time.

"Soldiers returning home to the U.S. are finding they still have a fight on their hands, but this time it's for jobs," said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder.com. "Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows nearly one-in-five veterans age 20 to 24 are unemployed, three times the national average. OperationHeroforHire.com provides a powerful resource for veterans to locate new opportunities, make themselves more visible to employers and learn how to package their skills effectively."

The site also serves as a key resource for employers looking to recruit top talent. Leading military-friendly companies say recruiting veterans is a smart business choice as these employees offer a unique blend of leadership and teamwork skills as well as integrity, technology proficiency and the ability to perform under pressure.

"Employers across America are realizing more than ever the great value veterans bring to the workplace," said Charles Ciccolella, the assistant secretary of labor for Veterans' Employment and Training Service. "CareerBuilder.com's launch of a free Web site to help employers connect with veterans recognizes that reality."

Launched last week, OperationHeroforHire.com currently features jobs in nearly all 50 states from entry to senior level positions in various industries. Highlights include:

   -- Easy Job Search - veterans can search by keyword, location and job
      type and by full-time, part-time and contract positions.  Visitors
      also have the option to search CareerBuilder.com's entire database of
      over 1 million jobs and sign up for job alerts that automatically
      email positions to job seekers based on search criteria.
   -- Resume Postings - veterans can post up to five different versions of
      their resumes to appeal to employers in different areas of interest.
   -- Veterans Corner- veterans can find everything they need for their job
      search in this tailor-made online information center.  From resume
      examples to interviewing skills to following up, veterans can get
      inside tips on how to successfully communicate their military
      experience and talents to employers.

Part of the challenge veterans face is knowing where to begin in their job search. To supplement the tools available at OperationHeroforHire.com, CareerBuilder.com is hosting special job hunting Webinars for veterans that will be held at 12:00 and 3:00 EDT on May 30th and 31st and June 2nd. To register, veterans should go to the following link: http://lra100.livemeeting.com/LRSRegistration/EC/careerbuildermms/1463304746.a spx

Operation Hero for Hire was first established by CareerBuilder.com, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn's Office and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and quickly grew into a nationwide initiative that continues to gain momentum. For more information on how to join the effort or find new job opportunities, visit http://www.operationheroforhire.com/ .

About CareerBuilder.com

CareerBuilder.com is the nation's largest online job site with more than 20 million unique visitors and over 1 million jobs. Owned by Gannett Co., Inc. , Tribune Company , and Knight Ridder, Inc. , the company offers a vast online and print network to help job seekers connect with employers. CareerBuilder.com powers the career centers for more than 800 partners that reach national, local, industry and niche audiences. These include more than 170 newspapers and leading portals such as America Online and MSN. More than 250,000 employers take advantage of CareerBuilder.com's easy job postings, 18 million-plus resumes, Diversity Channel and more. Millions of job seekers visit the site every month to search for opportunities by industry, location, company and job type, sign up for automatic email job alerts, and get advice on job hunting and career management. For more information about CareerBuilder.com products and services, visit http://www.careerbuilder.com/ .

  Media Contact:
  Jennifer Sullivan
  (773) 527-1164
  Jennifer.Sullivan@careerbuilder.com

SOURCE: CareerBuilder.com