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Recruiters hail value of veterans at Bossier City job fair

Kate Archer Kent

More than 100 job seekers turned out for the fall veterans job and resource fair held Thursday morning at the Bossier Civic Center.

Jason Schofield will retire next month after a 20-year career in the U.S. Air Force. Recently, he sent out 20 resumes and filled out as many applications in anticipation of his next chapter in life.

He appreciates a job fair geared toward the military, but he says there are many more companies seeking workers who were not at this job fair.

“There’s a lot of opportunity in the local area and this is just the tip of the iceberg,” Schofield said, who hopes to set down roots in Shreveport/Bossier after retirement. “I’ve done extensive research on jobs in the local area, and right now I think the economy in the local area is booming. This is just the tip of the spear.”

Monique Roux, director of military relations for the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, says local employers have a favorable view of veterans because they have proven skills and are hard workers. She planned the job fair for this time because many military families are in transition and new to the area.

“This is a really fantastic time to capture those individuals who have that great work ethic, great experience, and they’re looking for a new job now to transition from their military career into another career,” Roux said.

Bossier Parish Community College chancellor Jim Henderson says his college wants many veterans on campus because they have a good track record for completing programs and getting jobs.

“Veterans are amongst our most successful students. They’re great graduates. They have graduation rates that probably exceed that of our normal population. Their employment rates are through the roof,” Henderson said. “These guys, because they have been in the workplace, they’re very sought after by employers. When they get the skill sets we’re able to deliver to them, that makes them a total package.”

Schofield, a vehicle mechanic, hopes to parlay his skills to a new career in environmental and workplace safety. He says he has 15 promising leads, but employers want to wait to interview him until he separates from the military.

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.
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