|
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE |
|
Employment Opportunity EventThe Support Our Heroes hiring event was held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for returning National Guardsmen, Reservists, and Veterans. Hosted by AZ Representative Jerry Weiers and held at the Wigwam Resort, the day-long event was designed to give a hand to job seekers who have already proven their dedication and performed service to their country, and their communities. Hickman's Family Farms employees arrived early in the morning to spend the day with some of the nation's finest. |
|
Chris Pechac and Paul Yeatts, Hen Care and Special Projects |
Chris Pechac listens to needs of homeless veterans services |
Funky's Handler, Eric Mark - Happy to support Hire a Hero |
Hire a Hero |
|
Veteran-Navy, This Veteran just moved from Iowa |
Three Veterans - Juan recruiting for fellow Hickman managers |
Juan promoted many career opportunities at Hickmans for fellow managers |
Rep. Jerry Weiers plans job fair for veterans
in Litchfield Park
by David Madrid - Nov. 15, 2011 - The Arizona Republic
State Rep. Jerry Weiers thinks the best Christmas present an unemployed military service member can have is a job.
So, the Glendale Republican who represents District 12 figured he would do something to help deliver that gift.
Weiers contacted the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces and the Wigwam resort and organized a "West Valley hiring opportunity for veterans" from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 at the Wigwam, 300 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park.
The Arizona Department of Economic Security will provide computers so applicants can submit applications online immediately. Weiers hopes they will walk away with jobs.
"The goal of this event is to get our servicemen and veterans hired, or at the very least, line up interviews that day," said Weiers, adding that the biggest problem facing the nation is unemployment.
He said members of the National Guard, the reserves, and veterans from the branches of the military are coming home to high unemployment. He said they are qualified for a lot of jobs, and they know how to follow orders, so they will make excellent employees.
"I hear of employers everyday who are looking to hire qualified people, and I thought, 'This just doesn't make sense,' " Weiers said.
He said he has never organized an event such as this, but he said that if nobody does anything, people will remain unemployed. So, he is going to try to do something to help.
"One of the things that legislators keep getting beat up on all of the time is people don't feel as if they see the results that they expect," Weiers said. "Obviously, with state government and federal government, it takes longer to get anything done than it would for your local city councils."
There is no cost for the job fair.
Those who attend should bring resumes if they have them. If not, Weiers said there will be people there who will help them create a resume or fill out applications.
As of Monday morning, Weiers said seven employers had signed up to participate. The employers are S&S Tire, which has stores in Peoria, Goodyear and Surprise; McDonald's Corp.; the Arizona Department of Corrections; Prime Solutions Group Inc., an aerospace consulting company in Goodyear; Arizona Department of Veterans Services; Goodwill of Central Arizona; Abrazo Health Care, which includes some West Valley hospitals; Yates Buick Pontiac GMC; Sea Air Inland, a heating and air-conditioning company; and Hickman's Family Farms.
He also said 150 turkeys have been donated and will be handed out to veterans when they leave the job event.
Weiers said his target area is the West Valley, which he defines as west of Interstate 17, southwest to Gila Bend and northwest to Wickenburg.
"What I'm trying to do is target people who live in that area as well as employers that have businesses in that area," he said. "If we can get somebody to work close to home, well obviously it saves them money right off the bat, but if Intel wants to come over from the Eastside and hire Westside guys, I'm sure not going to stop them. That's just not my target, but it's like a hand grenade, we don't have to be right on track. If we're close, that's pretty good, too."
Weiers said he hears from too many people who have gone to job fairs only to wait in line for hours and then when they reach the employers, they are told to go home and fill out a resume and e-mail it.
"To me, that's demeaning," he said. "I want people to be able to fill them (resumes or applications) out right there and have a good, strong possibility of an interview right there. At the very least, let's set up an appointment for an interview next week or something like that."
Weiers said if the event is successful, he will hold more.
"I can't think of a better thing we can do than to put one of our returning veterans or reservists to work, so they can go home and tell their spouses, 'Hey, guess what, we don't have to worry about Christmas, I've got a job,' " Weiers said.
Interested employers should contact Tammy Phillips at 602-926-5894.