FORT SILL, Okla. (June 13, 2013) -- The Military Hiring Event held at the Fort Sill Reserve Center June 6 was a rousing success, according to Robert Phillips, local veteran's employment representative with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission in Lawton.
"We had a tremendous turnout, much better than we even imagined," Phillips said. "Our intent was to give these veterans and transitioning Soldiers opportunities to have real interviews for real jobs. And we accomplished that."
Phillips listed the following statistics:
- 187 veterans pre-registered online and 100 percent of them showed up.
- An additional 214 veterans registered on-site the day of the event, for a total of 334 attendees.
- 51 companies and agencies signed up before the event, and an additional eight companies came that day, for a total of 59 employers. All of these employers had confirmed jobs openings available.
- Four companies conducted 26 one-on-one interviews with applicants, and another set up interview appointments that evening.
Several applicants were hired during the event. Richard McPherson, executive director, OESC said that one employer told him they hired one veteran for a position that pays $70,000 a year.
"Not every new hire will make that salary but it's exciting to hear one of our veterans landed that job. That's what we are trying to do at these events help veterans get jobs so we can keep those highly skilled workers in the state of Oklahoma," McPherson said. "I know we will have these events again in the near future to help more Soldiers and veterans who are seeking jobs. Our staff is very passionate about helping veterans and those transitioning out of the military find and get jobs, but not just any job, a good job that will keep them here in Oklahoma."
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