Heroes4Hire Career Fair: Connecting Vets To Jobs

EAST HARTFORD — Governor M. Jodi Rell is urging military veterans to attend the Heroes4Hire Job and Career Fair to be held January 29, from 11 am to 3 pm, at Rentschler Field.

“Following two very successful job fairs in 2007 that connected our veterans with area employers, the Connecticut Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs are once again joining forces and inviting all Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine veterans to East Hartford for a third Heroes4Hire hiring event,” Gov Rell said in a press announcement.

Employers from across the state with hundreds of job openings will be at the job fair, looking to interview and meet with Connecticut’s veterans.

“What better opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives from many of Connecticut’s top companies who appreciate the skills and abilities our veterans bring to the workplace,” Gov Rell said. “Employers are hoping to hire highly-skilled individuals with a good work ethic, the ability to make decisions and the experience to accomplish goals and provide leadership in the workplace. Our veterans offer these qualities, as well as integrity, dependability, and strong technical skills.”

The first Heroes4Hire job and career fair, held last January, attracted 80 companies and more than 1,200 veterans looking for jobs, new careers, or educational opportunities. Representatives from participating companies will be looking for veterans to fill job openings in the managerial, professional, sales, administrative, production, and retail fields.

The event will include on-site resume consultation and critique, provided at no charge by the Connecticut Department of Labor’s team of Nationally Certified Professional Résumé Writers. Online applications to additional employers and career development guidance also will be available through the Labor Department’s Career Express mobile workforce center that will be parked at the event throughout the day.

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Vets Express and the Department of Social Services’ mobile van will also be on-site and both will be staffed with knowledgeable individuals who can answer questions about veterans’ benefits, vocational rehabilitation, career counseling, educational options and entitlement programs, including health care services, eligibility, and assistance programs. 

“With a new year just beginning, this is a great opportunity for veterans to identify employment opportunities, expand their job network, learn about educational programs, obtain industry information, sharpen their interviewing skills and have their resumes reviewed by top-notch professionals,” Gov Rell said. “This event not only connects employers with prospective employees, it also provides our veterans with the opportunity to meet with career counselors and social service experts who can help them gain a competitive edge in their job search efforts.”

Directions to Rentschler Field and a complete list of the companies planning to attend the event can be found on the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Web site at www.CTJobFairs.com. Parking is plentiful and the building is handicapped accessible.