The Career Transition Project’s 50th Hire at Pitt!

The Career Transition Project within the Office of Human Resources (OHR) is excited to celebrate its 50th hire at Pitt since the start of the project in July 2015. As of May 2019, OHR has officially hired 40 individuals with disabilities and 10 veterans through the program.

“It took an amazing vision in those early days, and so much support and assistance from a village of people, to make this program successful… There are 50 really happy people who are now a part of the Pitt community,” says Tom Armstrong, recruiter for the program.

The Career Transition Project—namely, through the Veterans and Individuals with disABILITIES programs—encourages a welcoming and inclusive workplace environment for the entire University of Pittsburgh community. These programs, led by Tom Armstrong, aim to hire veterans and individuals with disabilities, as well as actively provide outreach services to the University community, including assisting with job searches, attending career fairs, and creating referral resources for those who have been hired at the University.

The Career Transition Project has taken part in career-related events, created partnerships, and provided outreach to the community to spread the word about these programs and the University’s dedication to diversity and inclusion to interested individuals. On behalf of Pitt, Tom and fellow recruiters have spoken at 23 career-related events, as well as participated in 18 veteran- and 24 disability-focused recruiting events and 8 educational events. Partnerships have been made with 20 veterans groups, 38 disability groups, and 180 community partners.

OHR and the Career Transition Project received the 2018 University Prize for Strategic, Inclusive, and Diverse Excellence (UPSIDE) Award in October. The UPSIDE Award acknowledges programs that employ innovative approaches to increasing diversity and inclusion, creative and inspiring plans for future initiatives, and a record of commitment and success in diversity and inclusion efforts and related initiatives within the University of Pittsburgh community.

OHR would like to congratulate and thank Tom Armstrong for all of his dedication and hard work with the Career Transition Project!

Learn more about the Veterans and Individuals with disABILITIES programs in the University Times.