Recruit Military to Host Veteran Job Fair

COLUMBIA,SC (WOLO)-  Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Recruit Military are teaming up to help veterans get back in the work force.

More than 40 companies are looking to fill hundreds of positions at the Veterans Job Fair on Thursday.

Veteran Admissions counselor, Sean Noumi, is a veteran who benefited from the program. Noumi  spent 22 years in the Marine Corps, but after that, he struggled to find a job.

“I had no job, my savings was empty, for 9 months of paying all the bills with no income coming in except my retirement,” Noumi said. “On June 1st I retired. it took me almost 9 months to find the job I’m currently in now.”

Thanks to Recruit Military he was able to get back on his feet and into the work force.

“I posted my resume on the website, two days later I got a phone call asking me if I wanted to be a recruitment officer for a heavy operator school,” Noumi said.

His story, all too common.  That’s why each year companies like Amazon, Spectrum and countless others come to the Veterans Job fair.

“They recognize the talent that resides right here in Columbia SC from the military population,” Event Director, Chris Newsome said.

Newsome says a lot of men and woman who serve have a hard time a hard time adjusting.

“If they went into the military directly after high school they’ve lived breathed and slept military culture, but never really had to sit down with a talent acquisition manager, or show case all of those skills,” Newsome said. “Whether it be technical or soft skills that they learned in the military and understand how to properly apply that to a civilian job.”

The job fair isn’t only for people who need work.

“We’re going to have organizations in there that are also there for a service oriented role,” Newsome said. “Meaning for someone that does need help accesses benefits.”

The Veteran Job Fair will take place from 11am-3pm at the USC Alumni Center.

Click here to register for the job fair.