Veterans' Expo & Job Fair - Capital Area Review

Employers may be catching on to the many benefits of hiring veterans—their problem-solving, leadership, and stress-management skills, to name just a few—but judging by the turnout at the recent Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair, there are still plenty of Capital Area veterans searching for meaningful work.

The Radisson Hotel Harrisburg swelled with visitors, both active-military and veterans, during the five-hour event, which was free to the public.

According to a March 2016 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Labor, the overall unemployment rate for veterans has come down in recent years—to 4.6 percent in 2015—but unemployment numbers are higher (5.8 percent) for what are called the Gulf War-era II veterans, those who served at any time since September 2001.

A two-for-one event presented by OLP Events, the Veterans’ Expo connected active and retired military members with the benefits and resources available to them through local businesses and organizations.

At the Job Fair, veterans and employers met face-to-face to discuss available positions.

Company representatives were looking to fill openings in sales, labor, management, tech, medical services, transportation, clerical, manufacturing, engineering, construction, retail, financial services, and more.

Sandra Stout, an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam, had worked 16 years with the federal government and was hoping to return to it. “I’d like to get back into something working with the military since I know that the best,” Stout said. “I [spoke with] the Naval Supply Station, which is right up my alley.”

Also at the Job Fair, a Resource Center provided information on VA benefits and Medicare; mock interviews; guidance on small-business ownership for veterans, women, and the disabled; and advice on dressing to impress at an interview.

And because a social-media presence has become such an integral tool in business networking, photographer Steven Francis took free, professional headshots for veterans to use on their LinkedIn profiles.

About halfway through his tour of the job fair area, Winston Banks, an Army veteran from Harrisburg, had already handed out several of his resumes.

“I need a job. Anything that I’m qualified for, I will definitely apply for,” Banks said. “I’ve had a couple of good [interactions] … it’s worthwhile.”

The Veterans Expo & Job Fair will return to Lancaster County Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Spooky Nook Sports in Manheim.

Event sponsors included 50plus LIFE, BusinessWoman magazine, BOB 94.9, CBS21, DHL Supply Chain, Disabled American Veterans, The Guide, Pennsylvania American Legion, Pennsylvania National Guard Outreach Office, Pennsylvania State Headquarters VFW, The SYGMA Network, and WHP580.

For more information, call (717) 285-1350 or visit www.veteransexpo.com.

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