The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) is offering a free hiring pipeline that many Central Texas business owners remain unaware of, according to Isaac Marquez-Diaz, Veteran Employer Liaison for the commission. In Episode 75 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, hosted by Bryan Eisenberg, Marquez-Diaz detailed how employers can tap into this state-funded resource to hire transitioning service members at no cost.
Marquez-Diaz, a military veteran and former police officer based at the Round Rock Workforce Solutions office, explained the practical mechanics of veteran hiring. Key tools include WorkInTexas.com, which automatically matches job postings to qualified candidates, including unemployment recipients required to maintain accounts. The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) internship pipeline allows employers to host transitioning soldiers for up to 90 days while the military continues paying their salary. Marquez-Diaz also emphasized the importance of translating military titles like sergeant or commander into civilian equivalents such as supervisor, manager, or director.
The TVC Job Fair Con at Kalahari, scheduled for July 22, is expected to draw over 200 employers. Last year's event attracted more than 1,200 attendees, including candidates who flew in from New York. Marquez-Diaz shared a success story about a Marine veteran relocating from San Diego whose state application was nearly rejected due to a technical error. After Marquez-Diaz advocated on his behalf, the candidate was hired and now serves as HR Director for the Texas General Land Office, where he is building new veteran-focused programs.
Marquez-Diaz pushed back on the assumption that veteran hiring requires special handling, explaining the discipline built into service members. 'When you go to basic training, they kind of delete who you were and they transform you into a soldier. If you give them a mission, they're going to accomplish it,' he said. Eisenberg, who operates the A Place at Home franchise providing care for seniors and veterans, pressed Marquez-Diaz on how small businesses can connect with this talent pool.
Employers can contact Marquez-Diaz via email or connect through LinkedIn. The episode is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
