Military Employment Transition conference draws hundreds
'You don't know what's out there': Soldiers seek civilian jobs after military service
About 250 Canadian Forces members gathered in Halifax Wednesday at a conference aimed at finding them jobs when their service ends.
The Military Employment Transition Atlantic Conference seeks to connect people nearing the end of their military careers with 48 employers in such industries as communications, banking, construction and information technology.
Put on by the charitable organization Canada Company, the MET program helps those leaving the military make themselves more attractive to future employers.
"I see it all the time [with] guys getting out. You don't know what's out there. Like when's the last time you had to do a job interview?" said Kevin Dugay, a mobile support equipment operator who has been with the Forces for more than 25 years.
Dugay is optimistic about the future after talking to a few employers at the conference.
"I'm coming to realize that there's a lot more opportunities out there, and that the experience I've gained in the military, that's going to help me transition into some pretty decent and interesting jobs," Dugay said.
Often, those who leave the military have trouble finding jobs that suit the skills they've honed during their service. Many of their resumes are a complex maze of military jargon.
"Poor soul — if it ends on the desk of someone with zero military experience," said Alain Grenier, who was at the event representing the industrial and auto parts supplier Johnson Controls.
"Everything is based on acronyms. When you want to translate that to a business level of understanding, you need guidance and coaching."
Nova Scotia has the largest military presence in Canada, with more than 10,000 members serving in the province, but this is the first time Canada Company has held a conference in Halifax. The organization also announced the launch of an Atlantic chapter.
Nearly 1,400 people have been hired through the MET program nationally over the last 10 years.