More Veterans Finding Career Opportunities At AT&T

ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 3,600 veterans have started new careers at AT&T so far this year.  And with veterans' skills proving to be a good fit for the company's needs, AT&T is doubling its hiring goal for veterans and their family members to 10,000 over the next five years, consistent with its commitment to equal employment opportunities.

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About 55 percent of the veterans hired by AT&T this year made their transition to the private sector as technicians. Project Velocity IP, the company's investment plan to expand and enhance its IP broadband networks, is driving technician hiring needs.

Other veterans and their family members are finding positions across AT&T as IT professionals, retail and call center representatives, project managers, financial analysts, supply chain managers and more. And a select corps of junior officers and college-educated noncommissioned officers are being recruited into AT&T leadership development programs.

"We're benefitting from the skills, character and leadership experience that veterans bring to AT&T," said Scott Smith, senior vice president, Human Resources Operations. "And we're providing good career opportunities for them as they transition from military service."

AT&T's goal of hiring 10,000 veterans and their family members over the next five years doubles a goal it set in April with the White House's Joining Forces Initiative.  AT&T also announced then that it is leading an initiative with JPMorgan Chase and the 100,000 Jobs Mission to create the veteran talent exchange, www.vtx.jobs. The exchange enables active-duty military and veteran job candidates to "opt-in" to a talent-sharing database to facilitate the sharing and referral of veteran candidates among participating 100,000 Jobs Mission member companies.

"AT&T has a long standing tradition of honoring and valuing our military veterans," said AT&T Georgia President Sylvia Russell.  "We value veteran employees for a number of reasons. Military veterans are the leaders of tomorrow. Additionally, they understand and embrace team work, adaptability and loyalty, and they bring significant technical capabilities as a result of their military training. No veteran should have to fight for a job at home after fighting to protect our nation."

AT&T actively supports veterans and their family members: 

• AT&T has a veteran career site that includes tools for veterans to match their military skills with AT&T jobs.
• AT&T launched a military spouse career site that showcases the breadth of AT&T's portable and virtual careers across our US locations.
• AT&T's military talent attraction manager focuses on military recruitment.
• The company has a Careers for Veterans program where AT&T Veterans provide job search advice to veterans transitioning from military service.
• The AT&T Veterans employee resource group has more than 7,000 members. The group is in its 30^th year and mobilizes AT&T veterans as recruitment ambassadors and for community outreach and volunteerism opportunities.
• AT&T has been a pioneer and leader in the inclusion of disabled-veteran-owned business enterprises in the corporate supply chain through a program called Operation Hand Salute.
• AT&T also works with multiple organizations such as Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Military Spouse Employment Partnership, Military Child Education Coalition, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and state veterans' agencies and commissions.
• AT&T was named one of 2012's Best Military Talent Programs by Electronic Recruiting Exchange, the premier recruiting industry association.
• AT&T was recognized by the Direct Employers Association for our veteran recruiting programs.
• The Military Times EDGE Best for Vets ranked AT&T No. 12 for 2013.
• GI Jobs Magazine has recognized AT&T on their Top 100 Military Friendly Employer List for nine years running.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest and most reliable 4G LTE network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries.  It also offers advanced TV service with the AT&T U-verse^® brand. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.

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SOURCE AT&T