UBM Studios Milicruit Partners with Illinois workNet® to Produce the Veterans Virtual Career Fair

CHICAGO, Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- UBM Studios Milicruit, the recognized leader for virtual career fairs for veterans, today announced that it is partnering with Illinois workNet® Portal and Program to produce the Veterans Virtual Career Fair.  Illinois workNet® utilizes partnerships and technology to expand seamless and real-time access to workforce development resources aimed at individuals, veterans, businesses and workforce professionals.

"Many veterans have been displaced by layoffs and job loss, while others are transitioning into the civilian workforce," said Oana Amaria, Business Service Coordinator, Illinois workNet®.  "We at the Illinois workNet® program are dedicated to assisting veterans find employment that matches their interests and skills, and the Milicruit virtual career fair will allow them to meet with employers from the comfort of their own home.  We are very pleased to offer IL-based veterans the opportunity to participate in the Veterans Virtual Career Fair."

The Veterans Virtual Career Fair is open to all active duty personnel, veterans and military spouses and will showcase dozens of industry leading employers and government agencies who are committed to helping veterans find suitable employment after serving the country.   The Veterans Virtual Career Fair will open on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern and will be available on demand for one week.  

Milicruit brings the career fair to job seekers and provides the ability to walk the exhibit floor; visit employer booths; view/apply for jobs; chat with recruiters; build a network of peers; and perhaps even secure a follow up video interview, all from the comfort and convenience of home.  The virtual career fair is free for all veterans and military spouses to attend.  

"We are proud to call Illinois workNet® a partner in the virtual career fair given the unemployment rate for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan is at a record high of 15.2 percent as of January.  We are pleased to see that State agencies such as Illinois workNet® are doing all they can to help veterans find suitable employment as they transition," states Kevin O'Brien VP Business Development, UBM Studios Milicruit.

The Veterans Career Fair is supported by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, Department of Labor - VETS, Veterans Affairs - Vet Success, USO, IAVA, Hire Heroes USA, Walter Reed Medical Center, and the Student Veterans of America.

The virtual career fair is free of charge to job seekers.  Veterans interested in attending the event can register at www.veteranscareerfair.com   Employers interested in participating and veterans interested in attending the virtual career fair can register at www.veteranscareerfair.com

To view a video tour on how the service works click here.

About Illinois workNet® Portal and Program

For the purpose of expanding economic opportunity, the Illinois workNet® Portal and Program utilizes partnerships and technology to expand seamless and real-time access to workforce development resources aimed at individuals, businesses and workforce professionals. Innovative partnerships span state economic development, workforce development, education agencies, and local workforce investment boards along with their public and private partners including local governments, community colleges and non-profit organizations. Through partnerships that leverage technology, a common vision to plan for the economic futures of communities and provide a seamless array of services is realized.

Illinois workNet®  was launched in June 2005 by the Governor's Illinois Workforce Investment Board (IWIB), co-chaired by Jack Lavin, then Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and Ron Whitley of Cushman and Wakefield.   The IWIB continues to remain involved and provide leadership as Illinois workNet® expands to meet the needs of individuals, businesses and workforce professionals. The IWIB is currently chaired by Warren Ribley, Director of DCEO, and Mr. Whitley.   Illinois workNet® is sponsored by DCEO and made possible through state, local, and private sector partnerships.  

About UBM Studios Milicruit

UBM Studios Milicruit is a job fair for veterans/military personnel to come together in an interactive 3D virtual setting.  Each year 350,000 veterans leave active duty and many of them enter the civilian job market, Milicruit.com aids them in their search by providing a virtual career fair that brings veterans and employers together.  Veterans have the opportunity to register for virtual career fairs by building a profile and employers are able to fully interact with the individuals.  The career fairs offer virtual booths; job postings; company videos; company presentations; live chat with company representatives; video interviewing; and resume and interview assistance.  The traditional recruiting environment of veterans is costly, time-consuming and often times ineffective. Given the large number of veterans currently looking to reenter civilian life and the large number of employers seeking to hire veterans, milicruit.com allows both parties to meet and interact in an online setting.  For additional information on Milicruit, visit www.milicruit.com.  

About United Business Media Limited

UBM (UBM.L) focuses on two principal activities: worldwide information distribution, targeting and monitoring; and, the development and monetization of B2B communities and markets. UBM's businesses inform markets and serve professional commercial communities -- from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists -- with integrated events, online, print and business information products. Our 6,500 staff in more than 30 countries are organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, bringing buyers and sellers together, helping them to do business and their markets to work effectively and efficiently. For more information, go to www.ubm.com

SOURCE UBM Studios