Priority Hiring of Military Veterans at a Regional Hiring Event

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, MAY 17, 2017 – Employers will be recruiting new personnel for immediate hire at the Second Annual Illinois/Missouri Hiring Event at Machinists’ Hall, in Bridgeton, MO. Jobseekers from both sides of the river are invited, but military veterans and their families will be given priority for interviews during the first hour of the event.

The event will take place on Thursday, May 18, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. until noon, at Machinists’ District 9 Building, 12365 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044. Veterans are welcome during any hour of the event, but will be given priority from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Interested candidates should bring copies of their resumes, and be dressed professionally for interviews.

Twenty select businesses have been invited to participate. These employers are looking to conduct interviews and may hire individuals the same day to fill existing vacancies. Among participating businesses are BJC Healthcare (hiring for all MO and IL locations), American Water (IL), Precoat (MO), SCI Engineering (MO and IL), At Home Care (MO); other businesses will offer a broad spectrum of jobs in healthcare, utilities, manufacturing, construction, business administration, and more.

Military veterans and their spouses receive priority of service when they visit the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) and any other Missouri Job Center. Representatives work one-on- one with each veteran to help dedicated U.S. military service men and women find the full-time employment they deserve. While the unemployment rate for Veterans over the age of 18 in St. Louis has continued to drop since 2011, younger veterans who have recently returned from service continue to struggle adapting their skills for the civilian marketplace.

“When looking for a civilian job, veterans should highlight their ability to do that job, “said Jennifer Wade, Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER) of the Missouri Division of Workforce Development located at SLATE.

“A lot of veterans have qualities that are necessary in the job market – dedication, communication, dependability, loyalty, and leadership,” said Wade. “But, what many employers may not realize is that they also have excellent skills in computers, administration, physical labor, while others have worked in medical field, engineering, or construction.”

Many veterans do not realize that the credentials and certifications they received during recent U.S. military conflicts are enough for many employers to hire them, without additional training.

Wade says that it’s her job to find opportunities in both Missouri and Illinois, and talk to hiring employers on behalf of her military customers, encouraging businesses to think of veterans as valuable, skilled candidates.

Prior to the event, SLATE suggests that interested participants register with Missouri or Illinois Job Centers, depending on their residency. For additional information about the event or services for veterans, call 618-277- 8939 (IL) or 314-657- 3559 (MO).