“As much as I am introverted and don’t really like talking to people, I understand that it is a necessary part of life, especially when looking for a job.”
Hudsonville native Jacob Lotterman is an Army veteran who attended Ottawa County’s inaugural Veteran’s Job Fair.
“Mostly just networking, getting my feet on the ground, just actually meeting people rather than using websites in order to find jobs where there’s no face-to-face interaction.”
Lotterman says he appreciates Ottawa County’s efforts to support its veterans.
“It feels very nice to be, I guess, helped, because leaving the military and getting back into the regular life is very different.”
Over 20 local employers spanning a wide range of industries were on hand to assist veterans and their families with career coaching, resume support, educational resources and giveaways.
Lotterman hopes the computer science skills he honed during his recent military service will help him get a job.
“Ideally, walk away from this with at least an interview, at best, a job. I definitely just want to get my roots out and talk to people.”
Organizers say they hope to hold more job fairs for veterans in the near future.
