Transitioning service members and veterans invaded Qualcomm Stadium – but instead of rifles, these warriors carried resumes.
Over 380 military veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses put on their best business attire and picked up their briefcases for the 2009 Recruit Military Opportunity Expo at Qualcomm Stadium Dec. 3.
Recruit Military hosts 70 to 100 opportunity expos across the country each year, where many corporations, universities and government agencies recruit veterans for new careers.
Jasen Williams, the director of events and national accounts for Recruit Military, started his civilian career in the same shoes as many of the veterans at the event.
“I knew my home in the Marines, and I knew my job well, but I didn’t know what I could bring to the civilian sector,” said Williams.
As of September, the unemployment rate among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans reached 11.3 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Transitioning military need to get started ahead of time to prepare for life after the military and avoid becoming another statistic, added Williams.
“A lot of them are getting out in a few months, and they need to start preparing,” he said. “This is where we can get those conversations and connections started.”
Many of the qualities the military ingrains in its members are the same qualities employers look for in prospective employees.
“Companies are being more careful about where they’re spending money,” said Williams. “The military has a lot of important qualities imprinted on them.”
Many of the companies at the career fair look for these leadership qualities. However, some gain more tangible benefits from hiring military. SC Field Technical Services, a company that provides technical and field service support to energy companies in California, looks for military because of security clearances.
“80 percent of our employees are veterans,” said Chre Ligon, a human resources manager at SC Field Technical Services. “They have everything we are looking for: discipline, great attitudes and they aren’t afraid of anything.”
The jam-packed room was filled with many prospective employees with very competitive resumes, all vying for the same jobs.
“It’s a tough economy,” said Chief Petty Officer Charles Richardson, Center for Surface Combat Systems Detachment San Diego. “There are a lot of people here. You have to come out and make yourself presentable and hopefully you’ll get picked up.”
Richardson said the qualities the military has given him that will benefit him most when transitioning into the civilian sector are the ability to lead and critical thinking.
Although the expo was only in town for one day, Recruit Military helps connect veterans with corporations for free online as well, with over 10,000 companies recruiting over 400,000 service members for jobs over the last 14 years, according Williams.
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