Lynchburg Career Expo Aims to Help Veterans Find More Than Just a Job

Next Chapter event will connect veterans and military spouses with employers seeking their skills and experience

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Being employed and being meaningfully employed aren’t always the same thing.

That distinction is at the heart of the Next Chapter Veteran Career & Hiring Expo, scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance.

The free event is designed for veterans and military spouses who are unemployed, underemployed or considering a career change, giving them an opportunity to meet directly with employers that are hiring and interested in military experience.

Organizers say one particular focus will be veterans who already have jobs but may be working in positions that don't fully reflect their skills, experience or career goals.

Military service can develop expertise in leadership, logistics, technology, communication and problem-solving, along with an ability to make decisions and perform under pressure. Translating those abilities into civilian job qualifications, however, isn't always straightforward.

Veterans may have difficulty showing employers how their military experience applies to civilian positions, while employers may not immediately recognize the skills behind a military job title.

Next Chapter is intended to help bridge that gap.

The expo will feature employers with current openings along with career preparation and workforce resources. Job seekers also may have opportunities for on-site interviews.

Although the event was created with veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses in mind, it is free and open to the public.

The event will be held at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, 300 Lucado Place, with networking from 9 to 10 a.m. and the career and hiring expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Next Chapter is a collaboration among Crawford Olin, V2M | The Veteran Magazine, the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, Virginia Career Works and Operation Heroes Connect.

Job seekers and employers can register at NextChapterVets.org.