Employment and Job Training for Veterans
Employment and Job Training Services
Cook County Veterans Affairs works with employment organizations and networks across Illinois. The County is committed to connecting veterans to employers, and employers to transitioning service members and veterans.
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership provides training, placement and career coaching programs for job seekers. Veterans receive priority for all workforce services.
Find more information on the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership website.
Illinois Department of Employment Security and Illinois Job Link
The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) assists veterans in finding gainful employment. Veterans receive priority of service for employment services.
Veterans interested in IDES employment assistance can contact DES.MyVetRep@illinois.gov.
Learn more about IDES Veteran Services here. Use the Illinois Job Link service here.
Cook County Government Veterans Hiring Preference
When applying for employment with Cook County Government, preference is given to honorably discharged veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces for more than 180 consecutive days or during a time of war.
To take advantage of this preference, veterans must:
- Meet the minimum qualifications for the position
- Identify themselves as a veteran on their employment application by answering, “Yes” to the question, “Are you a military veteran?”
Attach a copy of their most recent DD214, DD215 or NGB22 (notice of separation) at time of application filing