Every mission requires preparation. Veterans instinctively understand the need for the best tools, current intelligence, and a strong team to succeed. Are you applying this same principle to your post-military career?
What Sets the FourBlock Career Readiness Program Apart?
FourBlock is revolutionizing veteran transition and career readiness by fostering a nationwide community where veterans and employers connect and collaborate. Our unique approach focuses on bridging the gap between military service and civilian careers. We facilitate meaningful dialogues between veterans and employers, creating opportunities to discuss career pathways, share valuable insights, and forge lasting professional relationships.
The FourBlock community is accessible to transitioning service members and veterans regardless of location. Through our program, participants gain crucial knowledge of best practices for career transition, explore diverse career options, and cultivate robust professional networks essential for long-term success in the civilian workforce.
Explore our upcoming program dates for both location-based and virtual programs, designed to meet the needs of veterans across the nation.
The FourBlock Career Readiness Program: Your Blueprint for Civilian Career Success
The Fourblock Career Readiness Program is meticulously crafted to equip transitioning service members and veterans with the essential tools and network they need to thrive in civilian careers. In partnership with leading companies nationwide and leveraging curriculum developed in collaboration with Columbia University, we provide a world-class career transition experience, completely free for veterans.
Each week, participants in the FourBlock Career Readiness Program engage directly with employer representatives from a variety of industries. These sessions offer invaluable insights into corporate culture, provide opportunities to develop and hone critical job search skills, and most importantly, facilitate direct connections with both veteran and civilian professionals for meaningful networking.
Offered twice annually during the fall and spring academic semesters in major metropolitan areas across the country, the FourBlock Career Readiness Program is accessible and convenient. Our curriculum is delivered by experienced Career Readiness Instructors and guest speakers – industry professionals and executives from top companies – ensuring participants gain practical, current knowledge of hiring practices and build their professional network from day one. The program curriculum is continuously updated annually, incorporating the latest research in career development and learning methodologies to remain at the forefront of veteran career transition support.
Throughout the program, each participant benefits from personalized support from a volunteer Veteran Career Readiness Coach. These coaches, often FourBlock alumni, company representatives, or individuals passionate about veteran support, provide constructive feedback, address individual career questions, and assist in developing tailored career search strategies and planning.
Graduates of the FourBlock Career Readiness Program (FourBlock alumni) emerge with a concrete action plan to advance their career goals. They gain enhanced skills in articulating their military experience to civilian employers, develop a deeper understanding of corporate environments, and establish a professional network poised for continued growth. Beyond the program, FourBlock alumni receive ongoing career counseling and access to our nationwide network and professional development events, both online and in-person, ensuring continued support throughout their career journey.
FourBlock has created a comprehensive transition program that is engaging, insightful, and effective. They are essential for veterans seeking new career opportunities.
Michael Burten, FourBlock Alumni, Columbia University
The FourBlock Experience: Building Bridges Between Veterans and Employers
At the heart of the FourBlock Career Readiness Program is the power of relationship building. We believe in connecting veterans directly with employers to foster mutual learning, build professional relationships, and explore real career opportunities. Each session is intentionally designed to facilitate these crucial conversations for every participant and corporate representative involved. Our curriculum is specifically structured to prepare each veteran for these vital relationship-building interactions and subsequent professional growth.
Even after completing the program, our commitment to alumni success continues. Our team remains available to support veterans as they take decisive steps towards discovering purpose and launching meaningful civilian careers. FourBlock alumni are encouraged to actively engage with our community, contributing their expertise and experience by serving as future Career Readiness Instructors or volunteer Career Readiness Coaches, participating in employer panels, or becoming champions for veteran hiring within their own organizations.
Other programs just seem to repeat the same information but FourBlock contains a vast array of information designed to better market yourself to employers.
Evan Barker, FourBlock Alumni, NYC Emergency Mgmt Dept
Our Curriculum: A Partnership for Veteran Success with Columbia University
Developed in collaboration with Columbia University, our evidence-based professional development curriculum is delivered through a dynamic blended learning model. This approach combines pre-session reflective activities, engaging online modules, and practical, face-to-face application, whether in-person or virtually. Throughout the semester-long FourBlock Career Readiness Program, participants engage in carefully designed lessons aimed at enhancing self-awareness, professional understanding, and career direction as they transition from military service or higher education into the civilian workforce.
Grounded in the principles of Experiential Learning and Community of Inquiry, our methodology is designed for maximum impact. Lesson content and assignments are delivered asynchronously through our user-friendly online platform, FourBlock Connect. Synchronous, instructor-led course sessions, supported by employer panels and practical exercises, provide real-time engagement and learning.
Participants in the FourBlock Career Readiness Program are expected to complete weekly assignments and actively participate in online discussions with instructors and fellow cohort members prior to each session. During each session, executives from leading companies and industries within the program location deliver presentations, illustrating the real-world application of the week’s lesson.
Furthermore, exposure to diverse companies, industries, and guest lecturers broadens participants’ perspectives, helping them discover potential career paths they might not have previously considered. Each session incorporates dedicated time for relationship building and practical application, including guided discussions, resume reviews, mock interviews, and general networking, all facilitated by professionals from the host company.
Learning Objectives: Empowering Veterans for Civilian Career Excellence
Veterans who successfully complete the FourBlock Career Readiness Program will achieve the following key learning objectives:
- Embody FourBlock’s Core Values: Demonstrate humility, build trust, and engage strategically with people.
- Translate Military Skills & Experience: Effectively communicate their value proposition to civilian employers through targeted resumes, compelling LinkedIn profiles, and confident interview and networking conversations.
- Professional Confidence: Interact confidently and professionally in diverse workplace settings.
- Career Clarity and Purpose: Gain a deeper understanding of their strengths, priorities, career aspirations, and how they can continue to serve in a civilian capacity.
- Strategic Network Building: Develop, expand, and effectively leverage a professional network for career advancement.
- Career Exploration and Discovery: Explore new career paths, industries, and companies to identify promising opportunities.
- Values-Driven Career Decisions: Understand how personal values align with corporate cultures to make informed career choices.
Furthermore, FourBlock alumni will have gained valuable opportunities to:
- Uncover Hidden Opportunities: Explore diverse industries, companies, and careers, revealing hidden opportunities that align with their skills, attributes, and interests.
- Targeted Company List: Create a working list of at least fifteen target companies for internship and full-time employment pursuits.
- Expanded Professional Network: Establish and expand a professional network within their current or desired location, leveraging the national FourBlock community.
FourBlock puts veterans in front of the right people and is designed to give veterans willing to put forth the extra effort an opportunity.
Chase Magann, FourBlock Alumni, Auburn University
Our Corporate Partners: Investing in Veteran Talent and Building a Stronger Workforce
Corporate partners are integral to every facet of the FourBlock Career Readiness Program. This deep integration empowers our veteran participants to make well-informed career decisions while simultaneously enabling our partner organizations to cultivate a robust veteran hiring pipeline. Each week, program cohorts visit different host companies throughout their city, gaining firsthand exposure to real-world corporate learning environments. Senior executives and fellow veteran employees from our partnering companies lead engaging large and small group discussions with our cohorts, providing invaluable insights from industry leaders and demonstrating the practical application of each week’s curriculum.
Exposure to these leading companies and guest presenters allows program participants to initiate or expand their professional networks, gain nuanced understanding of corporate culture and executive leadership, and discover potential career paths within industries they may have never previously considered. Dedicated time is incorporated into each class session for practical application exercises such as networking, resume reviews, and mock interviews, all directly involving professionals from the host company.
FourBlock proudly partners with over 60 top companies across the nation, connecting talented veterans with exceptional career opportunities and building a sustainable pipeline for veteran recruitment.
FourBlock is our competitive advantage.
Dan Baulig, Senior Vice President, Marsh Global
Expert Facilitation: Career Readiness Instructors Guiding Veteran Success
Our Career Readiness Instructors and guest speakers are accomplished professionals and senior executives representing some of the world’s most respected companies.
The FourBlock Career Readiness Instructor serves as the frontline leader and primary facilitator for the FourBlock Veteran Career Readiness Program. Working in close collaboration with the FourBlock Regional Director, Career Readiness Coaches, local employer partners, and veteran service organizations, the Instructor effectively delivers our comprehensive Career Readiness Program curriculum to cohorts of transitioning service members and veterans seeking fulfilling civilian careers.
Thank you FourBlock for giving me these opportunities. The engagements we had were like no other classes I have taken before.
Lyon Henry, FourBlock Alumni, Amazon
Our Veterans: A Diverse Cohort of Post-9/11 Leaders
FourBlock cohorts are composed of driven Post-9/11 veterans from all branches of the U.S. military. Our participants include both enlisted service members and officers, with a strong representation from combat arms, intelligence, logistics, and IT specialties, typically with four to six years of service.
FourBlock veterans demonstrate strong academic performance, often participating in the program during their junior year of undergraduate studies or their first year of graduate programs. They strategically leverage the FourBlock Career Readiness Program as a key partner in their professional development journey.
A typical FourBlock cohort comprises approximately 75% former enlisted and 25% former officers, with the majority pursuing bachelor’s or MBA degrees. Career interests are diverse, with roughly 60% focused on finance, international affairs, and consulting, and the remaining 40% exploring accounting, cybersecurity, engineering, intelligence, IT, journalism, and marketing.
Our veterans hail from top universities nationwide, including Columbia University, Fordham University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Northeastern University, NYU, UC Berkeley, US Military Academy, US Naval Academy, and many others, reflecting the high caliber of individuals we serve.
The impact of FourBlock is evident. Their program helps better prepare veterans to be leaders at every level in the respective industries they chose to join.
Michael Donoghue, Partner, PwC
Proven Results: The Undeniable Impact of the FourBlock Career Readiness Program
As we celebrate over 13 years of dedicated service, FourBlock remains committed to expanding our impact and assisting even more service members and veterans in successfully transitioning into meaningful civilian careers. The outcomes of our programs are clear: veterans make more informed career decisions, and employers make stronger, more effective hiring choices. Together, we are demonstrably improving the military transition process.
FourBlock Alumni Report *
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FourBlock is significantly impacting the workforce. An impressive 87% of our veteran alumni actively seeking civilian employment secured meaningful careers within six months of program completion,* and a remarkable 84% have remained in their initial post-program job for at least 12 months,* significantly exceeding the national average veteran retention rate of just 57% for first jobs after military service.**
Furthermore, a powerful 74% of our alumni report feeling “extremely confident” in finding meaning and purpose in their post-military careers, representing a substantial 95% increase from pre-program assessments.*
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FourBlock enhances corporate understanding of the veteran community. An overwhelming 99% of our host companies affirm that FourBlock provides a meaningful avenue for community engagement. Moreover, 95% of employee participants agree or strongly agree that their FourBlock experience deepened their understanding of the military community and the valuable assets veterans bring to their organizations.
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FourBlock delivers proven results. To date, over 4,000 veterans have successfully completed our Career Readiness Program and transitioned into fulfilling civilian careers. FourBlock alumni have been hired for internships and full-time positions at over 500 companies worldwide.
Notably, three of our distinguished partner companies have each hired more than 30 FourBlock veterans. Our alumni have received competitive offers from industry leaders such as PwC, T-Mobile, Wells Fargo, LinkedIn, Boeing, ADP, and USAA, among many others.
* Based on Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 pre- and post-assessment survey data
** IVMF and Syracuse University study
