Unemployed Veterans find help at the V. A. - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Unemployed Veterans find help at the V. A.

While we're all thrilled to have lots of our Veterans home, the not so thrilling part is the fact that many Vets are returning without jobs to support themselves or their families. Overall, unemployment for Veteran's is close to eight percent nationally. So here in Mississippi, employers are banning together to get our local heroes back to work.

Between nine and ten on Friday morning, more than 300 Veterans and those currently serving in the military piled into the V.A. Medical Center's Atrium to find a job.

"I gave my resumes out, they told me to do my application online and just keep in contact," said Jacobia Anderson, a member of the Mississippi National Guard.

The job and education fair was hosted by the Governor's Job Fair Network. A combined total of more than fifty businesses and schools were on hand, hoping to help our service men and women pursue higher education or find work.

"Making ends meet that's the goal right now, my wife recently got her Master's and we're trying to move forward with that so we can build a better future," said Iraqi Veteran Jeff Case.

 All of companies at the fair are currently hiring and many representatives held on-site interviews.

Adam Todd, the Director for the Governor's Job Fair Network of Mississippi said in the past, fairs like this have resulted in major success.

"Over 18,000 job seekers attended these job fairs last year, there were over 3,000 immediate job offers handed out by these employers at these job fairs," said Todd.

After serving in the Navy, Veteran Daryl Jones, who now works for the V.A. experienced homelessness. But now he's working on his graduate degree and encouraging his fellow Veterans not to give up on their dreams.

"First of all you just have to believe in yourself and you've got to believe in yourself that's a must , if you don't believe in yourself no one else will."

Friday's fair was also open to the spouses and children of Veterans.

For more information on upcoming job fairs go to www.jobsfair.gov.

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