What to Expect: Virtual Events Edition
Transitioning into a civilian career or looking for your next professional opportunity? The Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) Virtual Events team helps military-connected job seekers connect with military-friendly employers, build valuable skills, and expand their professional networks, all from the comfort of home.
Whether you are a transitioning service member, veteran, military spouse, caregiver, or working-age dependent military child, our online events are designed to propel your career forward. HOH virtual events typically fall into two categories: hiring events and professional development events. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of them.
Virtual Hiring Events
HOH virtual hiring events connect you directly with military-friendly employers. They include Hiring Fairs (open to all and focused on networking), Talent Invitationals (targeted events for specific companies actively hiring), and Industry-Specific Career Expos (focused on fields such as technology and often designed for specific career stages, including entry-level, mid-level, or senior-level professionals).
Before Event Day
- Register Early: Advance registration allows HOH Career Connectors to review your information and provide personalized preparation resources.
- Build Your Profile: You will receive a link to build a profile on the event platform. Complete it as soon as possible. Employers review profiles in advance to identify qualified candidates and may even schedule interviews before or during the event
- Research and Prioritize: Review the list of attending employers. Identify your top choices and understand how your goals align with their open roles.
- Perfect Your Pitch: Tailor your elevator pitch to the jobs you are targeting. Focus on how your experience translates into a direct asset for those roles.
- Attend a Prep Session: HOH offers pre-event sessions to help you put your best foot forward.
Event Day
- Log In Promptly: When the event opens, join the chat queues for your top-choice employers. The earlier you log in, the more likely you’ll be able to speak with your preferred employers.
- Engage Professionally: While most chats are text-based, some employers prefer on-the-spot video or audio calls. Dress professionally, test your tech beforehand, deliver your pitch confidently, and always thank the employer for their time.
After Event Day
- Follow Up: Connect with the employers you spoke to on LinkedIn. Send a brief note thanking them for their time to continue building your network.
- Take the Survey: Post-event surveys help HOH improve future events for military-connected job seekers.
Related: Check out What to Expect: Career Connector Edition to learn more about what the Career Connector team does for job seekers.
Virtual Information-Based Events
These interactive Zoom sessions are built to sharpen your professional skills and boost your confidence. They include webinars (expert panels with Q&As), workshops (small, professionally led breakout groups), and reviews (personalized feedback on career materials such as resumes and LinkedIn profiles).
The Process
- Before: Register to receive your Zoom link. A Career Connector may reach out with resources or materials to prepare beforehand.
- During: Log in on time, ensure your camera and microphone work, and actively participate. The more you put in, the more you will get out of the experience.
- After: Send a LinkedIn connection request to the presenters thanking them for a specific insight you found valuable and complete your feedback survey.
Pro Tips from the Virtual Events Team
Alyssa Hjembo, Senior Director of Virtual Events at HOH, emphasizes that success starts with preparation and a proactive mindset:
- The Early Bird Gets the Worm: Register and build your profile (if necessary) as soon as possible. Participants who register early have access to additional resources sooner and have more time to make needed adjustments to their materials. Plus, hiring fair employers are browsing candidate profiles days before the event begins.
- Do Your Homework: For hiring events, knowing about the companies you are chatting with takes the stress out of short interactions and makes your conversations more effective. For information-based events, thinking through what specifically you are looking to gain from the experience and contemplating potential questions to ask the presenter can ensure a successful event.
- Treat Everything as Networking: Approach every webinar, workshop, and fair as a potential job interview. Hiring opportunities aren’t always linear; a simple conversation can lead to an open door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Upload a concise, two-page resume that highlights your most relevant accomplishments and transferable skills. Tailor it to the industry you want to enter and make sure it clearly demonstrates the value you bring. Focus on how your past experiences equip you for future roles, rather than just listing everything you used to do.
While the workforce is trending back toward hybrid or in-office models, fully remote roles do exist – but they are highly competitive. Research organizations and functional areas likely to offer them. When chatting with employers, always lead with your skills and the value you bring to the company, rather than leading with a demand for remote work.
Related: Interested in learning more about our in-person career preparation and hiring fairs? Read What to Expect: Career Summit Edition to get the details.
Mission: Your Next Career
Navigating the job market doesn’t have to be a solo mission. HOH Virtual Events provide the tools, connections, and insider knowledge you need to stand out to military-friendly employers. By preparing early, participating actively, and following up strategically, you can turn a virtual conversation into your next career opportunity.
