IDVA, IDES and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Partner to Put Veterans to Work; More than 150 On-the-Spot Job Offers Last Year
CHICAGO–(ENEWPSF)–September 9, 2014. Hiring Our Heroes, one of the largest efforts to help Veterans and their family members find employment, returns to Chicago on Thursday, September 18. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) are primary hosts. The Aon-sponsored event is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency, 151 E. Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago.
More than 100 Chicago-area businesses are hiring to fill immediate job openings. Therefore, Veteran pre registration is critical to hiring success.
Veterans and military spouses should pre-register at hiringourheroes.org. This allows employers to review resumes, work experience and job skills prior to the event. Last year, this approach led employers to conduct 577 on-site interviews and make 152 job offers after outreach efforts by IDES, IDVA and other agencies.
Job seekers also are encouraged to take advantage of a free employment workshop at 8:30 a.m. focusing on resume writing, job search techniques and interview skills.
Free parking for job seekers is available at Grant Park north and south garages, Millennium Park Garage and Millennium Lakeside Garage. Parking validation is required.
Veterans also should register with Illinoisjoblink.com, the state’s hiring board operated by IDES. It uses the same matching technology as the Hiring Our Heroes events. Further, Illinoisjoblink.com helps employers meet federal and state help-wanted advertising and recruitment requirements. Job seekers can build multiple resumes to emphasize different skills and experiences. Employers can search by specific skill or license and leverage IDES’ no-cost HR recruitment services.
Illinoisjoblink.com now features Resume Builder. This intuitive, step-by-step process creates a resume designed to pass through computer filters employers use to sort job applicants. Once created, the resume automatically is matched to help-wanted ads that seek the worker’s skills.
IDVA and IDES also support the Illinois Hires Heroes Consortium (IHHC), a group of Illinois employers who recognize the great value Veterans bring to the workplace and who are “Veteran-friendly” by committing to implement a series of military Veteran recruitment, training, and retention practices.
Veterans are sought-after employees for their service training, soft skills and experiences which include respect for authority, embracing responsibility and success in a team-based environment. Service members also have advanced training in fields ranging from technology and manufacturing to construction and logistics.
A state income tax credit of up to $5,000 is available to businesses for each qualified Veteran who is hired. Employers also might qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $9,600 through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.
Other sponsors include the U.S. Department of Labor, the American Legion and Goodwill Industries.
Source: illinois.gov
