They might have led a tank unit in Afghanistan, but veterans might find they don’t know how to translate their military experience to civilian employers.
An event that continues from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds aims to prepare veterans for jobs.
The Colorado Military & Veterans Employment Expo could become a model for similar events across the country.
“I think we’re the first city to do this,” said retired Rear Adm. Dick Young, who came up with the idea as chairman of the Colorado Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
Young and others pulled together resources from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense, state and federal departments of labor, Colorado National Guard, Jefferson County Workforce Center and other groups.
Nearly 500 military and veteran job seekers are registered, with Young emphasizing that “this is more than a job fair. It’s an exposition.”
A good share of today’s activities are free, and include workshops in interviewing, making good first impressions, networking and writing resumes.
Also, employers will be at the fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. They include Abound Solar, Aerotek, Burlington Northern Railroad, Dish Network, Cintas, JBS Carriers, and a number of local and federal governments.
Young said he wanted something different than a job fair, insisting that the 85 employers on hand Wednesday have “real jobs” and are not just there to take applications.
Young said about 1,000 jobs will be available at the expo — good news for veterans, who have unemployment rates twice as high as the national average.
Jim Horak of Lafayette, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1979 to 1983 and then in the reserves, hopes the one-on-one mentoring he received Monday will yield a job.
“It helps to know what HR (human resources) people look for,” Horak said after Jewell Thurman of Allied Barton Security Services suggested ways he could make his resume stand out.
“Every inch is valuable real estate in your resume,” Thurman told Horak, who has been out of work for two years. “You already know your great selling points. You just have to make them jump out.”
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
