Career fair aims to help vets, dependents find jobs

  • Published
  • By Delanie Stafford
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. - --  Searching for a civilian job after serving in the military can be a stressful time, even for the most confident and experienced job seeker. A resource organized by the Offutt Airmen and Family Readiness Center is designed to help alleviate some of that anxiety.

The Offutt Career Fair, scheduled for Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Bellevue Lied Center, will provide an opportunity for military members to get acquainted with more than 100 employers from the local area. Many of the employers have hired military members in the past and appreciate the specialized skills and experience they bring with them.

"Most of them are looking to hire the veterans," said Barry Wilkinson of the Airmen and Family Readiness Center. "They're very pleased with the work ethic and abilities of the veterans. Veterans are well educated and they've got a variety of experiences and leadership at an early age."

Local employers representing a wide range of industries are scheduled to attend this year's fair. Some of the bigger employers include Blue Cross Blue Shield, First Data, Gallup, Physicians Mutual and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. There will also be many small and medium sized business' representing financial, technical, and service industries.

The fair provides a great opportunity for job seekers to get some experience in the art of finding a job.

"It's all about getting some exposure for the military people; to talk to those employers face-to-face; to ease some of the fears of the transition going forward," Wilkinson said. "We're just trying to encourage the people at Offutt and the family members as well...to come and start doing the networking processes."

Wilkinson said the key to finding a job is getting familiar with the process and what employers look for in a candidate. He also emphasized that it's important to know the value of your military skills and how they translate to the civilian workforce.

"Even if people aren't ready to retire or separate at this time...it's always in their best interest to start looking at these things and what's out there," Wilkinson said. "They get a lot of information from these employers. They might think they're ready to go into one of these jobs, but these employers might say 'you need a few more skills,' or 'you might need a little more education.' You find those kind of things out by going to the job fair and talking to these people."

Here are some tips that the Airmen and Family Readiness Center suggests for a successful career fair:

- Determine what industry you are interested in and qualified for, identify the employers attending the fair, and prepare a targeted resume that is specific to the job you want. If you have time, research the employer before you go.
- Identify your strengths and skills and how they transfer to the job you are interested in.
- Prepare ahead of time so you can arrive with a positive, enthusiastic attitude, ready to articulate why you are right for the job.
- Ensure your dress and appearance is professional, and be mindful of your demeanor from the moment you walk into the career fair.

In addition to these tips, job seekers can also gain some valuable information from the Human Resources Association of the Midlands who is also planning to attend the event. They will provide resume reviews and answer questions, such as how an application process works or what employers look for in job candidates.

Julia Noe, a community readiness consultant with the Airmen and Family Readiness Center, points out that the face-to-face interaction with employers can make a big impression.

"You don't always have to be the most qualified...your personality may be deemed a better fit to the culture of the organization, company or agency than the next candidate," Noe said.

For more information on the career fair, contact the Airmen and Family Readiness Center at 294-4329.