Published: May 17, 2008 02:15 am            

Career, educational fair planned May 29 at mall

‘A Tradition of Heroes’ theme of event, which focuses on veterans but is open to the public

FAIRMONT — An upcoming fair will help veterans get better prepared for the job hunt.

Fairmont WORKFORCE West Virginia and the staff of the veterans unit are sponsoring an employment, training and veterans services fair at the Middletown Mall in Fairmont. This veteran career/educational fair will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 29.

“A Tradition of Heroes” is the main theme of the event, which is trying to reach out to all veterans and the public. Gregg Flood, disabled veterans outreach program specialist, said the career fair is a networking tool and allows veterans to explore employment options and training services.

Although the event is veteran-focused, anyone is welcome to attend, he said. The fair is free and open to members of the public.

“What we’re trying to do is promote the employers, the veterans and the service providers and try to bridge that gap between everyone ... and let the veterans know that there are opportunities out there,” Flood said.

Around 35 vendors will be set up throughout the mall and ready to provide information, answer questions and assist veterans. The participating vendors include a variety of support agencies, community organizations, schools and job providers. People who stop by will have the chance to talk to local, regional, statewide and national representatives.

“Each veteran and each person is different in their needs,” Flood said.

This event is an effort to create awareness, he said. Many service members and veterans who return from military service don’t know what’s going on in the local area, and the career fair can help them become informed.

Mary Spellman, office manager for the Fairmont WORKFORCE West Virginia Center, said the event helps attendees interact with employers. If someone is interested in going into a certain field, he or she can talk to a specific employer in that job area.

“That face-to-face communication really helps people put their name out there,” Spellman said.

She said veterans gain great experiences and skills from the military, but unfortunately sometimes those skills don’t get transferred to the real world.

Flood served in the Army and is a disabled veteran himself. When he got out of the military after 10 years, a lot of the employers that he encountered knew he had skills but didn’t understand the jargon he used, he said.

“This gives the veteran the chance to market their military experience in a civilian world,” Spellman said of the educational fair.

Flood said the event will let veterans know what is available and can help them get back to school or work.

For more information, call Fairmont WORKFORCE West Virginia at 363-0654. People can also e-mail Flood at gflood@workforcewv.org and Spellman at mspellma@workforcewv.org.

A few more opening are still available for vendors. Service providers or companies that are interested should contact Flood before May 25.

E-mail Jessica Legge at jlegge@timeswv.com.

        

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