2009-09-22T19:09:18Z 21 2009-06-10 The Florida Times-Union

By Josh Salman Schanna Speight hasn't had much luck since being discharged from the military in November. And the effects of the economy aren't helping. After wearing an Air Force uniform daily for 10 years, Speight is now looking for a place where she can show up with a different uniform - a business suit. Seven months and 75 job applications since Speight left the military, the 32-year-old Jacksonville resident still can't find permanent employment. She's even hooked up with Worksource and ventured into nearly every outlet with no success, despite a college degree and years of technical and management training. "I'm out there looking," Speight said. "It's very frustrating, and hard to make the transition from the military." To help unemployed veterans like Speight land a job, RecruitMilitary is hosting a free hiring event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Crown Royal Touchdown Club East in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. As part of the career fair, veterans will have the opportunity for one-on-one interviews with more than 30 area employers, including Bank of America, Aflac, Comcast, Target and Northrop Grumman. Some employers have immediate openings, others will enter candidates into databases for future reference. And organizers are expecting upwards of 300 job-seekers to attend. "Jobs will include anything and everything from food service to management and sales," said Robert Walker, director of career fairs at RecruitMilitary. "It's a great opportunity for both veterans and employers." RecruitMilitary has hosted employment fairs in Jacksonville since 2006, with more than 700 showing up to the fair in November. The nationwide fairs have helped more than 1,000 people with a military background land a job, he said. Walker said Jacksonville has been chosen as a frequent location because of the naval base and large veteran population. There are more than 150,000 veterans living in Jacksonville with about 14,000 currently unemployed, said Harrison Conyers, management officer for the city's military affairs, veterans and the disabled services division...

2009-09-22T19:09:18Z http://www.recruitmilitary.com/marketing/BuzzManager/EditOrAdd_MediaNews.aspx?ID=100