AUGUST 29, 2020 – Although pandemic conditions have restricted the attendance of hiring events, Soldiers transitioning from the Army and spouses will soon have the opportunity to attend several upcoming job fairs online.
The Army’s Soldier for Life program has reached into the virtual realm to assist Soldiers and their spouses as they adjust from Army to civilian life and search for employment.
Private companies and SFL will offer free online career fairs beginning with the National Virtual Career Fair Tuesday from 12 p.m.-4 p.m. EDT.
The SFL and partner companies designed the fairs to connect Soldiers and spouses with jobs that match their skill sets and experiences, giving participants the chance to interact with potential employers. Jobs range from entry level to senior leadership positions and the fairs will give participants access to thousands of career opportunities across the country.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, companies will market more remote or teleworking jobs.
“If you’re looking to secure a job in the civilian workforce before transition, these virtual career fairs make it an easier process,” said Steve Yearwood, Soldier and Family Readiness Division program analyst, G-9. “So regardless of your location, the intent is to engage with employers who specifically seek military talent.”
Soldier for Life works continuously with government, non-government, and industry partners to advise on, help create, and promote on social media the best employment practices and opportunities for military spouses, Yearwood said.
Tuesday’s fair will focus on helping veterans find employment and is followed by another session on Sept. 16 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. EDT, called the Transitioning Army and Spouse Global Virtual Career Fair. That event will highlight the transition to civilian careers, Yearwood said, adding it will also be available to service members from each military branch.
Yearwood added that the transition process to a civilian career often can be a challenge because civilian employers use different terminology than the Army to describe required skill sets.
“So if they’re an infantry service member they may be able to apply a different skill set that a company may be looking for rather than saying ‘I want this particular job,’” Yearwood said. “But the intent is to match the service member’s skills with civilian opportunities and how it correlates with some of the civilian jobs.”
The job fairs align with one of the Army’s top priorities: improving the quality of life for Soldiers and their families, Yearwood said, adding that the Army Quality of Life Task Force also helped coordinate them.
Yearwood noted that the Army continues to find avenues to give spouses more employment opportunities, such as a Sept. 9 webinar for spouses at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The webinar, as part of a wider Department of Defense effort, will help Fort Polk spouses find work.
Finally, the American Freedom Foundation will host The Summit: Warriors to the Workforce hiring symposium from Sept. 16-17, where veterans can interact with more than 40 employers and other veterans. Participants can attend a resume workshop, take part in a mentor search, and attend a networking session. Soldiers interested in attending the free event can register at http://www.warriorstotheworkforcesummit.com/.
Veterans interested in participating in Tuesday’s National Virtual Career Fair must register at https://rmvets.com/NationalVCF0901, while Soldiers and spouses can register for the Transitioning Army and Spouse Global Virtual Career Fair at https://www.rmvets.com/ARMY.
Participants are encouraged to take online webinars to learn how to navigate online job fairs on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. EDT and on Tuesdays at noon EDT by logging onto https://www.rmvets.com/VCFWebinar.
Veterans can also access the Veterans Career Search Research Center at https://rmvets.com/VCFVetResourcesAB. Spouses can refer to military spouse resources at https://rmvets.com/VCFMilSpouseResourceAB.
By Joseph Lacdan, Army News Service