To help veterans of all ages make the transition from military service to the workforce, communities are making the job search for U.S. veterans accessible and comprehensive this fall, with the help of job fairs geared specifically toward them.

Hiring Our Heroes has job fairs in 400 communities across the U.S., including one on Sept. 27 in Chicago. The fairs have helped more than 10,000 veterans and their spouses get hired.

Toyota recently partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes job fairs and Sgt. Dakota Meyer, a veteran Marine sniper who served in Afghanistan, to help returning troops and veterans make the transition from military to civilian jobs.

Meyer, the first living Marine in three decades to receive the Medal of Honor, will be on hand at certain job fairs around the country to meet veterans and address the challenges they are currently facing. Toyota will back a “Personal Branding Initiative” to help translate veterans' military skills into terms that employers will recognize on a professional resume.

“The U.S. is currently facing an unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans of more than 12 percent, which has the potential to increase as troops return home from overseas," said Don Esmond, a former Marine and senior advisor for Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. "We believe the Personal Branding Initiative is an important step forward in addressing this challenge because it helps veterans translate their military experience into marketable skills." 

Besides being a resource for career guidance and advice, the job fairs are a great way for veterans to meet other veterans in their towns and discuss their skills and prospects togetherRegistration ends Sept. 1 for the Chicago job fair, scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 27 at Loyola University Chicago's Gentile Arena. For more information and to register, visit the event website.