Hundreds of veterans and military members turned out for a big job fair at the Live Oak Civic Center Thursday.
A packed parking lot sent applicants to find spots in the grassy areas around the Live Oak Civic Center, where dozens of companies competed to get first shot at the best veteran candidates.
Master Sgt. Terry Ceasor will leave the Army in two years and is looking for a position where he can use skills he has gained as a recruiter.
"HR or the outreach with recruiting. You know, establishing new contracts, new business. My degree is in marketing, so I kind of want to be in something similar to that," Ceasor said.
Some of the veterans have very specialized experience. Staff Sgt. Kendra Friendly, who’s exiting in March after nine years in the Air Force, works in IT security.
"But my degree is in client systems, like working on computers, but I want to get something in the security field," Friendly said.
Patrick Newman, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions Alamo, said more than 100 companies were specifically invited because they had jobs ready to be filled, and he believes many veterans would make successful connections.
"The military people are used to structure," Newman said. "They’re used to be able to perform. They know all of the essential skills because that’s what they’re taught in the military."
This was the second annual Hiring Red, White and You Job Fair. Locally, USAA, Toyota, Lockheed, and La Quinta were given top honors for their commitment to hiring veterans and military spouse.
