Legion, JobZone expand path to veteran employment
Photo by Clay Lomneth

Legion, JobZone expand path to veteran employment

Veterans, troops in uniform and their spouses performed their best elevator pitches and polished their résumés during a JobZone employment event Aug. 18 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Janet Giles, founder and CEO of JobZone, said she saw a need to create more opportunities for servicemembers and veterans to connect with employers on a personal level back in 2005 while she worked on military installations providing transition assistance. After her last contract expired, Giles created the organization with the hopes of bringing small unique events to military bases and veteran spaces in an around the nation’s capital.

“I went from hosting events with six or so employers to bringing in around more than 20,” Giles said. “I like to remain small. The job seekers feel more comfortable at smaller events because they can take the time to engage company representatives and show that what they have to offer.”

The event featured top employers including JPMorgan Chase & Co., Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and AT&T. Coaches were also on hand to assist with résumé writing tips and provide individual résumé critiques. Each individual JobZone event provides access to seminars taught by professionals willing to help job seekers tailor their résumés according to their job experience and the types of employment they wish to gain.

As an added benefit, participants and employers have access to each other through an online database after the event. Through the online portal, job seekers can learn more information about the companies that were present, see job openings and post their résumés. Employers also have the ability to pull the résumé of qualified applicants and make direct contact.

Air Force veteran Jennifer Christner said she has never witnessed an event quite like the one at Andrews during her four-month job search. “I really appreciated the opportunity to speak directly with hiring authorities and pitch exactly what I can offer them. There were several available positions that I could see myself doing.”

Unlike many of the previous hiring fairs Christner attended, she was offered a job interview on the spot. For the first time, Christner said she felt like things were looking up for her and she was able to regain some confidence during her job search.

American Legion representatives engaged the servicemembers, veterans and spouses, providing information regarding resources and benefits. “The American Legion plays a vital role during these events,” said Giles. “So many programs and benefits exist, it gets complicated. The veterans and servicemembers oftentimes get frustrated. Sometimes they need organizations like the Legion to bridge the gap and point them directly to the resources they need.”

Giles and The American Legion have co-hosted numerous employment events over the last seven years at Post 176 in Springfield, Va. Giles said she hopes the relationship will continue to grow as she looks to expand more events to Colonial Heights Post 284 in Virginia.

For a list of JobZone and American Legion hiring events, visit The American Legion Career Fair calendar.