Business & Tech
Oak Lawn Jobs Hosts ‘Helmets to Hardhats’ job Fair for Veterans
Hiring fair will focus on helping military veterans getting their foot in the door with Chicago-area trade unions.
OAK LAWN, IL -- Oak Lawn Jobs is putting military veterans first by hosting a job fair next month with area trade unions.
Chicago’s trade unions, including electricians, ironworkers, pipefitters, plumbers, carpenters and other companies will be at Johnson-Phelps VFW Post 5220, 9514 S. 52nd Ave., Oak Lawn, to connect military veterans to prosperous careers in the trades.
The fair runs 3 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 29 and Aug. 30.
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The hiring fair is sponsored by Oak Lawn Jobs, a program started by Tr. Tim Desmond (Dist. 1) in 2013 to connect veterans, residents, high school and college graduates to better paying jobs.
“We make connections with unions and businesses,” Desmond. “We give them names of people looking for work. It’s another way to connect employers with employees.”
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Desmond saw a need for veterans struggling to find their niche in civilian life, as well as high school graduates working low paying jobs in fast food restaurants or retail who weren’t ready or unable to attend college.
Since the program’s inception, Desmond says there have been many success stories.
“We had a guy come back and tell us how the program enabled him to get an apprenticeship with IBEW Local 134,” he said. “An Oak Lawn Community High School student who was working part-time for Napleton Honda is now having his school paid for to train as an auto technician.”
Desmond also credited Don Finn, president of IBEW 134 and Eamon McMahon of the Carpenters Union with getting behind the program. The Oak Lawn Jobs website offers resources for job hunters, from links to union apprenticeship programs to resume help.
Throughout the school year, Oak Lawn Jobs hosts several informative fairs for students at Richards and OLCHS.
While the focus of next month’s fair will be on helping veterans get their foot in the door with trade unions, Oak Lawn residents and Oak Lawn Jobs are participants are also welcome to attend the fair and explore various career paths.
Veterans do not have to live in Oak Lawn to attend the fair.
This story has been updated with new information.
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