CAREER EVENT
for Military Veterans

FAQs

HR representatives and hiring managers from the participating member institutions. In most cases, no. The application and interview process requires more time than can be allotted at this event. The purpose of this event is to make introductions and connections and to help veterans understand the application process. With this in mind, applicants and employers can start the interview and consideration process, which ideally will lead to an offer of employment.

To date, more than 1,500 veterans have received offers of employment from participating member institutions after attending our Hiring Red White and You events.

There are several reasons to attend — here are two:

1. To make a great impression in person (especially important if your resume doesn't stand out from the crowd).
2. To learn more about prospective employers — much more than you can learn from their websites. You learn the most about the culture of an organization by meeting their people and asking questions in person. Much of the job search process is not done in person. It involves employers screening resumes and cover letters, and you reading about employers and viewing their websites. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to meet employers face-to-face.

Nothing replaces in-person contact and the opportunity to make a good impression. We recommend that all participants attend our pre-event workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to give participants one-on-one opportunities to ask questions and receive useful advice from HR representatives from the participating employers/member institutions.

• Want to have your resume reviewed by an HR professional?
  • "Should I list OBJECTIVES on my resume?"
  • "Should I have one resume or multiple versions?"
• Want to better understand the application and interview process?
  • "Why does it take so long to hear from a prospective employer?"
  • "What's the difference between a background check and a reference check?"

These and many other questions will be discussed at the workshop and the panel discussion. You will also have the opportunity to speak, one on one, with representatives from many of our member institutions. This will allow you to receive a broad range of useful information.

Here is some feedback we received from veterans who attended the workshop in 2015:

"The workshop gave me the missing link I needed to put everything into perspective."

"It boosted my confidence and helped me prepare my resume in a professional fashion."

This year we will also hold a panel discussion. The panel will include recruiting and hiring experts from around the medical center who will further assist you in your transition from military service to a great opportunity here in the medical center.

In addition to attending the workshop, we recommend attendees do the following:

• Visit the websites of the participating employers. This will give you a sense of the jobs available and, most importantly, will allow you to target your participation to meeting with representatives who can connect you with the jobs you wish to pursue. The research should allow you to create an "A" list and a "B" list of employers you wish to meet and roles you want to explore during the event.
• Upload your resume to the prospective employer's websites. Uploading your resume is an essential step in the application process. Most employers manage their recruiting activities through their applicant tracking system. The best way to ensure you are considered for a job is to post your resume online.

Employers have to comply with federal regulations about the way they manage applicant data. These regulations have an impact on employers, job seekers, and how status as a job candidate is determined. In order to comply with these regulations, and to manage the volume of applications efficiently, many employers require job applicants to apply online on the employer's website. This does not mean the employer is giving you the brush-off, and it does not mean you or the employers are wasting time by attending the fair and having a conversation. Many employer representatives take notes or may "flag" your submission online based upon their interactions with you at the event, but they still have to follow certain application procedures. Prepare a 20 to 30 second introduction to use during the event. You don't want to sound like a telephone solicitor reading a script; you do want to sound like you thought about why you're there. It might be something like, "Hello. I'm Tom Henderson. I've been in military service for ten years; mostly in logistics and IT. I did some research on your website and I see you are recruiting for a (insert title) in your (insert department name). In my last five years in the military, I've done extensive work in this area and I believe my skills and experience represent a great fit. I'm very interested and would like to learn more about this role."

Prepare questions in advance. Employers want employees who are proactive, thoughtful, and listen well. Make yourself stand out with smart questions.

Don't ask for information you could have easily learned on the employer's website.

Don't ask about salary and benefits. (The employer should initiate discussion of those topics. A job/career fair event is not the place for a job seeker to initiate this.)

Examples of good questions IF YOU COULD NOT FIND THIS INFORMATION ON THE EMPLOYER'S WEBSITE:

• What kind of person are you seeking for the(se) position(s)?
• What particular skills do you value most?
• What do you like about working for your organization?

Remember that some employers have employee testimonials on their website. Check those out in advance.

• What are current issues that your organization is facing that would have an impact on new hires?
• Why is your organization involved in the Hiring Red White and You initiative?

• I read about xyz project on your website. Is your department involved in that work?
• Do you have a large military veteran population in your organization? What are the career paths for veterans over the first few years on the job?