Veteran’s first DAV job fair leads to new career

The first time Marine Corps veteran JC Wright attended a DAV job fair, he expected nothing more than a learning experience.

The former communications officer had never been to a job fair, or at least had no memory of one. He didn’t know how to sell himself and stand out among the other qualified veterans looking for jobs, but he was willing to learn.

That job fair, held in November 2021 in Dallas, wasn’t just Wright’s first. It also ended up being the only one he needed to land a new career.

“It was completely the opposite of what I expected,” said Wright, who is now a systems engineer for Raytheon Technologies, an aerospace and defense company.

As he walked through the job fair, Wright was singled out by recruiters. They invited him to learn about their companies and consider applying. He described employers as “hungry for hiring veterans.”

The last booth Wright stopped at was Raytheon, a company he’d had his eyes on. The representative was immediately interested in Wright’s background and security clearance and said he’d pass Wright’s résumé along to other hiring managers in the company.

That was on a Thursday. On Sunday, Raytheon contacted Wright about moving forward with the hiring process. Within weeks, he had a job offer.

“I go to a veteran-only job fair, first time ever, [and] the last recruiter I talk to, I get a job offer,” Wright said, still in disbelief.

The transition from the military to a civilian workplace has been an adjustment, but Wright is fortunate to work with other veterans. He easily rattles off positions filled by former service members — and those are just the people he met in his first couple of days.

“It definitely helps with gelling with a group because … as soon as you show up, you know there’s somebody there that you can get along with easily, right off the bat,” Wright said.

Plus, he said, the more relaxed environment means he gets to wear fun socks.

“Today, I have on ‘Captain Obvious’ socks,” he said.

Before landing the job, Wright spent months “cranking out” applications. Despite more than seven years as a commissioned officer working in IT and cybersecurity, he wasn’t getting any bites.

After a promising position unexpectedly went to someone else, Wright decided to revisit his résumé, tailoring it for the private sector. He researched keywords to use and turned to fellow Marine veterans who had successfully transitioned to civilian jobs.

That work paid off once his résumé got into the Raytheon recruiter’s hands.

“Veterans are some of the most qualified, valuable candidates out there, but military experience alone isn’t enough to attract employers,” said DAV National Employment Director Rob Lougee. “Veterans must be able to translate that experience and the unique skills acquired through service to prospective employers in the private sector. As JC learned, a résumé is key in doing just that, and DAV is here to help.”

Wright said nailing the résumé is Step 1. Step 2?

 “Get tied in with a veteran program like DAV,” he said. “If you don’t, you’re doing yourself a disservice. It is a free resource that will get you a job in an area you want to work.”

 Job seekers can find more tips and resources at jobs.dav.org.