New Jersey job fair yields results

The American Legion joined forces with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to host a recent job fair in Tom's River, N.J., as part of the Hiring Our Heroes series, a joint effort between the two organizations to employee veterans, military members and their families. The event, held at George P. Vanderveer Post 129, followed in the success of the previous Hiring Our Heroes job fairs, as around 25 veterans were hired by vendors in attendance.

"The general consensus among everybody was it was definitely a positive thing," Post 129 Commander Rich Gato said. "The employers were happy and collected a number of resumes. I talked to a number of job seekers who were thrilled with it."

In attendance were Verizon, New Jersey State Parole Board, New Jersey Transit, Lowe's, New York Life Insurance, Sears, Hecht Trailer and Hertz. Rep. Jon Runyan, R - N.J., spoke at the event, and the local NBC affiliate streamed the fair live.

"We feel it was very successful," Gato said. "The banquet hall was filled the whole day with people. I know Verizon had 60 positions open and hired six on the spot. Hecht Trailer hired two right on the spot."

Before the fair, Gato and other event organizers lifted the registration requirement and opened the doors to any veteran who walked in the post building. Attendees not only got the chance to network with potential employers, but they received career advice from counselors who were on hand.

The fair continued to produce results even after it ended. One of the vendors reached out to Gato afterword, looking for a diesel mechanic. He connected the company with a veteran who was a diesel mechanic in Afghanistan and got the veteran a job.

"At least 20 were hired that day, and the number got close to 25 in the days after," Gato said. "It was definitely a great pilot program."