Job Fairs and Veteran Job Fair Differences

  JOB FAIRS AND VETERAN JOB FAIR DIFFERENCES


I am a job seeker who is looking for work, and by no means a job expert, but I offer my own experience to others time to time.  While looking for work I am trying to attend every network and job fair event that I can, and since I am a veteran I also try and locate every veteran event I can as well. 

While attending job fairs I notice large differences between civilian job fairs and ones that are specific to veterans.  I should've taken photos showing the differences, but I'll try and describe the differences.  If you are a veteran and attended these fairs you will understand.   


Civilian Job Fair
In a civilian job fair the booths are largely profit-schools (tech schools that offer their services to help you become employable), temporary hire firms, and mostly call center positions, and door to door sales. I'm not saying all of these are bad, but not necessarily what everyone is looking for, but can lead to other opportunities. 

 Veteran Job Fairs
Veteran specific job fairs you can tell right off on how serious everyone is,  when in line everyone is basically dress-right-dress (when you look at the end of the line you only see one person),  everyone is clean shaven, haircuts, and neatly groomed, and women veterans look pretty sharp as well.  You can tell a veteran right off without asking, even with the recruiters.   The job offerings are much much more than a typical fair, some you may have to relocate, but the fair generally offers something for every skill from a cook, pipe fitter, helicopter mechanic, medical to IT services.   

 If you are a veteran and hadn't decided to try a fair yet you should.  Search google for local events, the local Chamber of Commerce, Veteran Reps and Veteran boards. 

Various Veteran Fair Listings
Listing of some veteran boards that sponsor job/career fairs for veterans. There are many more sites, but this is a start. 

Vet Jobs
 Recruit Military
Hire Patriots
Military.com Expo dates.
US Chamber of Commerce Fair listing September 2012

Written by Oliver Brown, Job Seeker, September 19, 2009