Scott's View: Hiring Our Heroes Jobs Fair, Helping Transitioning Veterans Start Successful Careers

I had the pleasure and honor to meet with patriotic corporations, and special military veterans, in New York City just last week as part of our nation's push to get our Post-9/11 military into the civilian workforce. Last Wednesday, Hiring Our Heroes — a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation — hosted another in its nationwide series of hiring fairs at the 69th Regiment Armory in downtown Manhattan.

Although "Hiring Our Heroes" is a national initiative, this latest stop in the Big Apple should provide an added boost to this already dire need. We need to get momentum here in our nation's media and financial capital, so the buzz can translate into significant jobs across the country. Even VA Secretary Shinseki made a stop to review the activity, as well as Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer.

The latest initiative from Hiring Our Heroes – in fact, let’s call it an innovation – comes through its “Personal Branding” skills translator engine. Much more than a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) translator, the Resume Engine captures the totality of a veteran's military experience - including awards, deployments, and military schooling - and helps put them into civilian terms. It is packed with input from Fortune 500 human resources consultants and intended to help newly transitioning veterans hit the ground running with a successful career.

Dakota Meyer has been making the tour of these job fairs helping to get the word out, and this past week he graciously took the time to hang out with me, board member Gerry Byrne, and Commissioner of the NYC Mayor's Office of Veterans Affairs (MOVA) Terrance Holliday.

Participate! For more on upcoming dates and locations for Hiring Our Heroes, click here.