Job fair offers veterans the opportunity to find the right career

BALTIMORE — Veterans bring a wealth of skills and expertise from their military service. But navigating the job market can be challenging. Job fairs like the one taking place Thursday at Baltimore's Inner Harbor can help.

The transition between military and civilian life is often a delicate balancing act. Marine Corps reservist Nhien Truong can attest to this. He and his wife Uyen are from Southern California. They have been living in Baltimore for about a year.

“We wanted to have more options to stay where we are if a job opportunity arises, especially for my wife,” says Truong, “so that we can stay in the area and not have to move.”

The Truongs were among more than 150 veterans and their spouses looking for work at the fair.

More than 60 companies offered positions from entry-level to senior management in numerous industries.

“Events like this give me the opportunity to reach out to people, talk to them and get to know the community, especially the veteran community that I am a part of,” Truong says.

This community includes people like Everet Anderson, a retired Army veteran who now helps other veterans find work.

“I hear about their goals and aspirations and I can really help them through that transition,” Anderson says. “It's not only easy, but it's also very stressful. Being on the other side and saying, hey, you know, you're going to get through this, sharing your perspective, I think helps a lot.”

The job fair was organized by Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Recruit Military. To learn more, go to recruitmilitary.com, register and create a professional profile. There you can connect with more than 16,000 local, national and global companies.