Military veterans and their spouses will have the opportunity to meet with local employers who are recruiting for high-demand positions in government, manufacturing, health care, aerospace, IT, shipping, law enforcement, transportation, retail, and more at a career expo in Seattle. 

The second Working with Our Troops expo will take place on July 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Washington State Convention Center. It’s an example of the actions King County is taking to help local military veterans and their families as part of Executive Dow Constantine’s Regional Veterans Initiative, which is now in its second year of implementation.

“Military veterans have the discipline, experience, and proven ability to work as part of a team that employers are looking for,” said Executive Constantine. “This career expo not only supports our servicemen and women, it connects local businesses, nonprofits and government agencies with a talented pool of candidates.”

The event is jointly sponsored by the King County Veterans Program, WorkSource Seattle-King County and the Washington State Convention Center.

Ed Barnes, Vice President of Operations for the Washington State Convention Center, will lead a workshop on interviewing skills, with tips to help veterans successfully present their knowledge and experience to prospective employers.

“Veterans bring vital skills to the workforce: dedication, initiative, leadership, a strong work ethic, the ability to work as part of a team, and great problem-solving skills and they stand ready to bring those talents to our local employers if given a chance,” said Barnes. “The Convention Center is proud to help make that possible.”

All employers on site have jobs to fill and are especially interesting in talking with veterans. The event is tailored to the professional skill sets of veterans, unlike a typical job fair. The resource fair will also feature one-on-one resume writing sessions with professional human resources staff volunteering their time to help veterans polish their resumes and cover letters.

Organizers are working with Joint Base Lewis-McChord and veterans organizations to encourage veterans and military personnel transitioning from service to attend. Free bus transportation will be available from several sites. Registration and transportation information and a list of participating employers are available here. Registration is required for the box lunches, but walk-ins are also welcome.

For more information on the Veterans & Spouses Career Expo and the King County Veterans Program please contact Rich Garmong, Business Outreach Coordinator with the King County Veterans Program at 206-477-6998 orrichard.garmong@kingcounty.gov.