Upskilling Veterans With Military Career Fairs

No Limits

Following the question from an attendee, ‘What industries are hiring vets?’ HOH moderator Chuck Hodges responded, “What industry do you want to work in is the question.” It was an eye-opening concept for many in attendance. There are opportunities in every industry, and the career fair floor relayed the same message.

A survey conducted by Prudential Financial and IAVA found that 80 percent of respondents said they were looking for "the right job," not just any job, and while law enforcement and security jobs may be a natural transition for many, lots of service members are looking to get involved in IT, entrepreneurship, and management positions in various fields.

Businesses at the HOH career fair ranged from law enforcement and security to hospitality, tech and beyond. Companies included Boston Scientific, Ecolab, Facebook, FBI, Genetech, Hilton Worldwide, IBM, Live Nation, Southwest Airlines, Starbucks, Marriott International, Kaiser, United States Postal Service, and myriad police departments among dozens of other big brands.

Veterans came prepared with resumes-in-hand, many of which had just completed a revamp thanks to ResumeEngine.org, who hosted a resume workshop prior to the fair’s start.

More than a Career Fair

In addition to a long list of eager employers, LinkedIn was there to offer advice on creating polished LinkedIn profiles and tips on how to effectively use the social channel for job hunting.

LinkedIn team provides guidance to veterans on LinkedIn profile essentials (Simplilearn image)

Simplilearn, the strategic training provider for HOH Corporate Fellowship, was in attendance to educate attendees on the many certifications that make today’s resumes stand out from the crowd. Based on the careers many veterans are looking to break into, project management, quality management, cyber security and digital marketing certifications are a worthwhile first step into a permanent new career. Simplilearn offered all onsite veterans and active duty service members a free online course of their choice, as well as a 50 percent discount to military spouses.

Veteran talks with Simplilearn’s Christina Lee about available courses (Simplilearn image)

The fellowship is a 12 week internship program for active duty service members and spouses. All participating fellows receive a scholarship from Simplilearn.

In a survey conducted by military-transition.org, 48 percent of participating service members claimed that the transition was more difficult than expected, many citing they quickly found themselves facing money issues they had never encountered before, with little support from peers as to where to start on the job front.

HOH moderator Chuck Hodges kicks off the opening ceremony at AT&T Park. (Simplilearn image)

“Veteran hiring events like this HOH Expo provide direct communication between well-vetted veteran candidates and employers looking to hire them,” says Halliwell. “The added panel discussions, for both employers and job seekers, provide valuable insight and engagement for all involved in the transition process to meaningful employment.”

With nearly half of the 200,000 veterans returning home each year feeling ill-prepared to rejoin the workforce, a supportive community is a must—and that includes the employers themselves understanding the needs of veterans in order to accommodate them during their transitions as best as possible.

Interested in attending an HOH Career Fair? Click here for a list of upcoming Hiring Our Heroes events.