Military and Veterans Employment Expo

Statistics show that our veteran unemployment is higher than their civilian counterparts. That’s why key federal and state agencies, together with numerous nongovernmental entities, have banded together to organize a three-day expo to provide needed and essential assistance to veterans and military personnel seeking employment in Colorado.

The Military and Veterans Employment Expo will be held at Jefferson County Fairgrounds May 23 through 25, 2011. A different kind of job fair, this event offers classes to veterans to help them address issues that may be preventing them from gaining sustainable employment. Such issues include a weak resume, poor interviewing skills, ineffective networking approaches, and an inability to translate service experience into work experience. In addition to these offerings, the expo also provides face-to-face interaction with employers who are ready and eager to hire.

On the first two days of the three-day event, the expo will offer seven classes, including private-sector resume writing, federal resume writing, dressing for success, landing the interview, and networking. While registrants must complete four of the seven courses in order to receive a certificate of completion, they are free to choose whichever sessions they feel will be of the most benefit to them. Registrants are encouraged to take advantage of one-on-one sessions with volunteer mentors who have real-life experience in the hiring of personnel. These volunteers are on site to advise registrants on how to improve their chances of employment, how to determine which jobs are the best fit, and how to navigate the job market in Colorado.

An informal reception is planned for the evening of the second day where veterans will have the opportunity to meet some of the employers who will be attending the next day’s job fair. Those veterans who have earned their certificate of completion will be invited into the job fair at 9 a.m.; the remaining registrants may enter the fair at 11 a.m. Numerous employers will be available at the job fair to answer questions about their companies and talk with veterans about opportunities at their organizations.

This event promises to be a life-changing experience for many of our state’s unemployed or underemployed veterans. To register for the Military and Veterans Employment Expo, call (720) 250-1189 or visit www.mvee.org.