Pre-Register for March 26 Veteran Hiring Event to Maximize Job Opportunities

CHICAGO – The Hiring Our Heroes - Chicago event, one of the largest efforts to help Veterans and their family members find employment, returns to Chicago on Wednesday, March 26. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) are primary hosts. The event is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the University of Illinois Chicago Forum at 725 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago.

More than 100 Chicago-area businesses are hiring to fill immediate job openings. To be considered, Veterans and military spouses should pre-register for this event at hiringhourheroes.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. There also will be an Employer Lunch & Learn for attending recruiters who wish to enhance their military hiring initiatives.

Veterans also should register with Illinoisjoblink.com, the state’s hiring board operated by IDES. It uses the same matching philosophy as the Hiring Our Heroes events. Further, employers can meet federal and state hiring requirements by using Illinoisjoblink.com. Job seekers can build multiple resumes to emphasize different skills and experiences. Business owners can use keyword matching technology to search resumes and find the best candidate. Illinoisjoblink.com is free and compares favorably to private efforts that cost hundreds of dollars. No-cost HR recruitment services for employers and workers are available at the website and at (877) 342-7533.

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, Student Veterans of America, and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.