In this episode of the Sunny Ray Show, host Sunny Ray talks with Joel Holst of VetRamp, who describes his company as a relationship facilitator connecting veterans with people who can help them land good jobs. Joel traces his own path from the Navy to a recruiting career, which began when his ship's executive officer ordered him to call his father, a recruiter in Austin, Texas. He explains how VetRamp and its sister company Providence Partners split commercial and government work, how they bootstrapped both businesses, and why federal contracting depends on credentials, past performance, and strategic partnerships. Joel shares placements including Eric Bard and a contract supporting Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, and describes a new SkillBridge program that helped earn a Medallion award. He also explains the reach test and scorecard process used to keep hiring realistic and consistent, and why being authentic matters when veterans put themselves out there.
A Navy veteran turned recruiter explains how real relationships, credentials, and authenticity help veterans land jobs they actually enjoy.
What does the transition out of the military look like for veterans, and what do employers value in them?
Leaving the military means learning a new system, and there is usually trepidation. But veterans bring skills employers like. They show up, they are creative, they solve problems, and they are courageous about trying new things. That can-do attitude and drive appeals to both federal contracting and commercial employers.
What did your own transition out of the military feel like?
It was stressful. Before I left my ship, my executive officer asked where I was headed. I said Austin, Texas, and he gave me a direct order to call his dad, a recruiter there, who would buy me lunch. Jim became a great mentor, and I eventually became a recruiter myself.
What was the hardest part of turning your recruiting experience into your own company?
Believing I could do it, and finding partners to do it with. Then cash. We bootstrapped both companies, self-funding on existing relationships while waiting for cash flow to turn positive. At VetRamp it took a solid two years before anyone stopped eating beans and franks.
Who was the first veteran you placed?
Eric Bard, a longtime friend of my business partner Drew McDel. He is a retired Army major with strong logistics and IT backgrounds, and he fit a program manager role perfectly. We have since placed him in two jobs, and he is now part of our inner circle.
Where does VetRamp stand right now with its partners and programs?
We have a SkillBridge program and recently received a Medallion award for putting veterans into meaningful work. We work with five clients on the VetRamp side and are launching three more, helping them stand up their own SkillBridge programs. We help veterans earn the credentials commercial and federal employers require.
How do large companies find VetRamp, and what does landing customers look like?
Almost all our business comes through referral and relationships. In federal work, you need credentials and past performance, and often strong strategic partners. We have worked with Lidos, talked with GDIT, and partnered with Cornerstone on state contracts. It is eyeball to eyeball relationship management, and contract vehicles can take months or years.
What does dependable talent mean to the companies you work with?
It is a moving target that needs constant testing. Before recruiting, we run a reach test, gathering data on compensation, skills, and credentials to see if the job is attainable, not a purple squirrel. Then we build a scorecard so everyone evaluates consistently, and finish with a fit test on values.
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