Job seekers and employers at this year’s Veterans Career Fair give the event top marks

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people in an exhibit hall visiting tables where people are sharing employment information

Governor Tim Walz proclaimed May as Hire a Veteran Month in Minnesota. Throughout the month of May, the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) and the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), and other state and local agencies are drawing attention to the great value veterans bring to Minnesota employers. 

Earlier this month, DEED and MDVA hosted the 17th Annual Veterans Career at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center. About 350 current and former members of the U.S. military and their spouses turned out for the May 3 event, which featured nearly 100 veteran-friendly employers. 

Preliminary survey results are in from veteran job seekers and employers who participated in the Veterans Career Fair – and the results are really positive. 

More than 95% of job seekers who attended the career fair and completed a survey gave the Veterans Career Fair an overall rating of Excellent (71%) or Very Good (25%). 

Here’s a sampling of what job seekers said: 

"This was my first time to a Veterans Career Fair. I really enjoyed this. Everyone was exceptionally friendly, helpful, knowledgeable!"

"Great selection of employers, some mid/higher level IT positions that I am looking for."

"Made lots of contacts to follow up with. Thank you. "

"Very good experience. It was my first time. I'd recommend others to attend."

Job seekers weren’t the only ones with positive things to say about the Veterans Career Fair, here’s how one employer described the event: 

“This year's job fair was one of the best job fairs I have been to in a while. I spoke to a lot of qualified candidates. We consistently had people talking to us at our booth. Past job fairs we had lulls with no people walking the aisles of the job fair. I am really happy with the results of this job fair.” 

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