BUFFALO, N.Y. --More than 200 military veterans-- young and old male and female-- networked with potential employers at the New York National Guard's Connecticut Street Armory here on Thursday.
Organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with the University of Phoenix, Employer Support of The Guard and Reserve, NBC News, the American Legion and Student Veterans of America, the four-hour event brought together 66 companies and agencies offering multiple job openings for veterans and military spouses.
"We are not just looking for young people or middle-age people," said Irma Tyszko, a representative for Fisher Price, the famous East Aurora, N.Y. toymaker.
"We brought four veterans who were hired through previous hiring fairs here to best reinforce our commitment to giving opportunities to veterans, particularly in product development" she added.
Her company has eight key job openings in the Buffalo and Western New York region at different levels of experience that she is hoping to fill, Tysko said.
One of the 200 veterans searching for a job was Specialist Victoria Mariani, a Soldier in the
Army National Guard's 153rd Troop Command here in Buffalo, who has served in Afghanistan.
"I personally feel that the job fair is awesome but I am interested in healthcare opportunities," Mariani said.
"I wish to see more variety of positions offered the next time and hopefully one applicable to the healthcare service field," she added.
The event also included a free Hiring Our Heroes employment workshop dedicated to improving resume writing, interview skills, and job search techniques for all military members and their spouses.
"Our efforts are paying off and we see the results with the growing number of improved resumes and products students and potential job seekers are submitting to employers," said Matt Campbell, the University of Phoenix National Defense Liaison for western New York.
Additionally, the day also included a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve signing ceremony in which 15 Buffalo-area companies pledged to fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
The law ensures that members of the Reserve military and National Guard can serve their country as citizen Soldiers and not lose their civilian jobs.
USERRA provides that returning service-members must be promptly reemployed in the same position that they would have attained had they not been absent for military service, with the same seniority, status and pay, as well as other rights and benefits determined by seniority.
Since Hiring Our Heroes began in March 2011, more than 1,500 companies have hired over 23,000 veterans and military spouses as a result of more than 700 hiring fairs, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
These hiring fairs make a big difference in finding veterans and reservists jobs, emphasized Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General of New York. Murphy opened Thursday's event.
"As a result of those efforts, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is reporting a current unemployment rate of 5.3 percent for post-9/11 veterans compared to the nation as a whole 6.3 percent," Murphy said.
Related Links:
New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs
Hiring Our Heroes veteran's job fair held at Fort Jackson
New York National Guard Hosts Hire our Heroes Job Fair At Connecticut Street Armory on June 5
Veterans seeking employment drawn to Long Island job fair hosted by New York Army National Guard
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