PHOENIX, Ariz. - A special job fair on Thursday will feature more than 100 employers and all the potential employees will have one thing in common - the United States military.
The "Hiring our Heroes" job fair is aimed at helping veterans, active duty military and reserve members.
More than 800 people have registered for the two-day event, which started Wednesday with workshops on everything from resumes, interview attire and social media.
The employment event is one of 100 taking place around the nation, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Department of Labor and Veterans Employment.
The job fair portion will happen on Thursday at the El Zaribah Shrine located at 552 N. 40th Street, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Soldiers usually have a tougher time finding a job but the down economy is making it worse.
"The population here in the U.S. is at about 9 percent unemployment, guardsmen and reservists on average have 13.2 percent unemployment rate.
When you get with younger soldiers and airmen it's even higher than that." Up to 65 percent, according to Scott Essex who is with the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces.
Benjamin Reynolds is getting out of the Marines after 8 years. He's based in Yuma. "I never saw myself getting out, with the budget cuts and the downsizing I just don't have the option of re-enlistment."
He hopes the special job event will help open the right doors. "I feel kind of lost, especially where I'm looking for a job because law enforcement and the military, they go hand in hand but there aren't a lot of police departments hiring."
