The Minnesota Veterans Virtual Career Fair is over, but the resources offered and connections made through the online event are continuing to benefit current and former military members and their spouses, as well as Minnesota employers. Here's what we've heard from two participating employers, 3M and Andersen Windows and Doors, both gold sponsors of the event.

“As a fellow veteran, and 3M hiring manager, it is wonderful to be part of a local event that encourages companies to highlight opportunities for veterans,” said Jennifer Loveland, Enterprise Operations Black Belt and member of 3M’s employee resource group. “At the same time, it creates a central place for veterans to go to connect with local companies who understand their experiences and can help make connections to build on those military experiences and pursue roles outside of the military.” 

“An exciting and refreshing experience,” remarked Sheon Hunte, HR Business Partner II with Renewal by Andersen, who participated in the event. “It was a surreal opportunity to meet veterans like myself embarking on a new journey, just as I had a year ago. I absolutely felt at home interacting with my comrades and wanted them to feel comfortable in seemingly an uncomfortable space and letting them know their choice in Andersen Windows and Renewal by Andersen was the right choice.” 

More than 800 veterans and their spouses registered for the first-of-its-kind online hiring event last week. The nearly 200 employers participating in the Minnesota Veterans Virtual Career Fair were encouraged to offer veterans full-time jobs with benefits and family-sustaining wages. These Minnesota companies identified themselves as being particularly welcoming to veterans because they know the value veterans bring to any organization. 

If you are a veteran, active military member, or spouse and didn’t get a chance to attend the event or want to follow up with employers you didn’t have time to meet, you can see a listing of employers who appreciate your military experience and participated in last week’s event. The Veterans Virtual Career Fair Directory lists all employers who participated in the event and their contact info, offers a quick description of their business and highlights current employment opportunities. 

If you’d like more information about CareerForce Veterans Employment Services, visit our Veterans Resources page and get contact information for a Local Veterans Employment Representative near you. 

Ray Douha, Director, CareerForce Veterans Employment Services.