IDES, IDVA and U.S. Chamber Partner to Put Veterans to Work
Pre-Registration is Encouraged for Best Service, Results
CHICAGO - One of the largest efforts to help Veterans find employment arrives at the College of DuPage on July 26 in the Hire our Heroes career expo. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs are primary sponsors.
More than 90 suburban and Chicago-area businesses have positions ready to be filled. Veterans should dress appropriately, bring resumes and be prepared for a brief, preliminary interview.
The expo is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the College of DuPage Service Resources Center, Room 2000, 425 Fawell Blvd. Individuals can pre-register at www.uschamber.com Other sponsors include the College of DuPage, the Student Veterans of America, Operation Support Our Troops-America, workNet DuPage, and the Veterans Assistance Commission of DuPage County.
Veterans make loyal employees because they respect authority, embrace responsibility and thrive in a team environment. They emphasize group goals over individual accolades. They understand technology, have the ability to learn, and have experience in such fields as manufacturing, construction and logistics.
Governor Quinn recently increased the state income tax credit to $5,000 for each qualified Veteran who is hired. Additionally, employers might qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $9,600 through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.
At the IDES, more than 500 employees - approximately 25 percent of the workforce - are Veterans. Additionally, nearly 60 IDES associates are Veterans specifically assigned to help Veterans return to work. In 2011, the IDES provided re-employment services to more than 45,000 Veterans. Nationally, the unemployment rate for Veterans post 9-11 remains higher than the general population.
Illinoisjoblink.com is an IDES employment website that links help-wanted ads and resumes. This no-cost, on-line career resource allows individuals to create multiple resumes that emphasize different talents and allows businesses to search for specific skills. The keyword matching technology increases the likelihood of a successful new hire. Illinois JobLink emphasizes Illinois jobs, scrapes other commercial job boards, and compares favorably to private efforts that cost hundreds of dollars for a single help-wanted advertisement.
IDES - IDVA College of Dupage Veterans Fair (pdf)
