KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) are teaming up to help service members, veterans and their spouses explore career opportunities and apply for openings at some of the restaurant and hospitality industry’s top companies.
The Hospitality Career Connection virtual career fair takes place June 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT, and includes businesses such as Applebee's, BJ’s Restaurants, Ecolab, Sodexo and Sysco. Participants are strongly encouraged to preregister for the Hospitality Career Connection and upload their resume by visiting http://www.nraefcareerfair.org. Registration is also permitted during the event.
The Hospitality Career Connection will align candidates with a wide array of positions ranging from culinary arts and food service to restaurant management, construction and environmental services. More than 500 veterans, service members and their spouses participated in last year’s virtual career fair.
More than 250,000 servicemen and women will separate from active duty each year for the next five years and the restaurant, foodservice industry is expected to create more than 800,000 new jobs in the next five years.
“The VFW is thrilled to be teaming up with the NRAEF again,” said VFW National Commander Brian Duffy, Air Force veteran and retired UPS assistant chief pilot. “Coordinating large-scale hiring initiatives like our June 21 event help to ensure our service members, veterans and their spouses have every opportunity available to help them find the post-military career success they deserve.”
“We have a decades-long tradition of supporting our U.S. military veterans and active duty service men and women,” said Gordon Lambourne, VP, Communications, NRAEF. “We are excited to again partner with the VFW on this unique opportunity to connect potential employers with members of the military to learn about opportunities in our industry and match their skills, training and talents with meaningful restaurant, foodservice and hospitality jobs and careers.”
About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation: As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready – partnering with community based organizations to provide “opportunity youth” with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and, the Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship Project – a partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association providing a hospitality apprenticeship program for the industry. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.