Career Services write-up - Dallas, Texas Veteran's Job Fair

Every year Dallas, Texas organizes a Veteran Job Fair which is one of the leading trade events in the United States.  It is known to be one of the largest job fair events.  Our company had the pleasure of participating in this job fair this past March.  I was one of the employees that volunteered to be a part of this event, along with some of my team members in recruiting and staffing with Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold.  I felt like it was a honor to attend, and I really wanted to be a part of this job fair.  Since my father was also a Veteran from World War II, I had a personal connection to want to help and assist.

The job fair was an all day event.  The event is organized by Recruit Military, LLC.  This was an event that focused on recruiting mostly from the Army and Marine Corp.  Over 2,000 Veterans appeared from all over the United States.  Most of the attendees were Sergeants and Lieutenants that were preparing for finding employment after they retired from their service; along with Soldiers, Sailors, Spouses, and Guardsmen.

I was overwhelmed with the professionalism that all displayed.  Dressed from suits, camouflage uniforms, and even military spouses also turned up for their loved one that was serving overseas but soon to be home.  They arrived from all over the United States, but all of them had one thing in common, and this is that they all needed a job when they returned home. 

I enjoyed speaking to all of them.  The men and women honorably have given so much for our country and all of us, I wanted to be able to assist and help as many as I could in one day.  I feel that our government needs to assist in helping with the unemployment among our Veterans.   Most had not heard of our company but eager to learn more about our copper industry and even willing to relocate to Arizona for employment.  I found the candidates respectful, professional, and their skillset was extremely qualified for the positions of their background.  They all were in a position of now transitioning to a civilian work environment.  Very qualified individuals with high level degrees and work experience.  They're looking for what most of us are looking for and this is security.

I'm not sure what the ending percentage recruiting number was with our company from this particular job fair, but it was such a positive opportunity that I got to be a part of.  I would encourage all recruiters to take the initiative in hiring and recruiting our military Veterans to be a part of their organizations.  It was an exhausting trip by the time we all returned back to Arizona, but it was well worth it to be a part of this fantastic cause in helping the ones that served for us.  Our company plays a huge part in recruiting and staffing military candidates.  It's a great feeling knowing that I can be a part of making a difference in their lives.