{"id":23781,"date":"2026-06-26T14:42:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T18:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/?p=23781"},"modified":"2026-06-26T14:42:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T18:42:14","slug":"what-to-expect-career-summit-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiringourheroes.org\/stories\/what-to-expect-career-summit-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Expect: Career Summit Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Navigating your next career move can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure where to begin. While there\u2019s no magic solution to simplify the transition, there are ways to approach the process with greater clarity and confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) Career Summits connect you face-to-face with employers who are actively recruiting members of the military community. These events offer focused, high\u2011impact opportunities to strengthen your job search preparation, build meaningful connections, and engage directly with employers who understand and value military talent. You\u2019ll leave with practical tools, new insights, and direct access to employers offering local, national, and remote roles across a wide range of industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Career Summits at a Glance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

HOH Career Summits connect transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, military caregivers, and working-age dependent military children with employers who are committed to recruiting military community talent. Hosted on military installations worldwide, these events typically feature career readiness workshops, industry discussions, and a hiring fair where participants can speak directly with employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Career Summit Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Workshops and Preparation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Pitch<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Career Summits begin with interactive seminars and hands-on workshops covering topics such as personal branding, interviewing, understanding civilian employment benefits, salary negotiation, industry spotlights, and leveraging LinkedIn. Many summits also include mock interviews, free professional headshots, individualized LinkedIn profile reviews, and guidance on certifications needed to transition into high-demand fields. Participants gain access to tools and resources tailored to military-connected job seekers. These sessions are designed to help you feel confident and prepared as you step into the hiring fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hiring Fair<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
\"Hiring<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The event concludes with a hiring fair featuring military-ready employers. Organizations host booths to highlight open positions, share resources, and meet candidates face-to-face. Many participants interview on-site, receive follow-up interview requests, and, in some cases, walk away with job offers the same day. This is your chance to make a strong first impression, ask thoughtful questions, and demonstrate how your skills and experience align with employer needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Summit Team Wants You to Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While walk-ins are always welcome, HOH Director of Hiring Events Crystal Kearns emphasizes the value of pre-registration. By registering in advance, participants gain access to preparation resources and personalized guidance from the HOH Career Connector team<\/a>. The Career Connectors review your registration materials, introduce you to tools like Resume Engine<\/a>, help you refine your resume, assist you in creating your profile for the event, and share additional programming details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: <\/strong>Check out What to Expect: Career Connector Edition<\/a> for additional information about, and a behind-the-scenes look at, the Career Connector team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you pre-register, you receive access to the list of attending employers in advance of the event, giving you time to research each organization\u2019s mission, values, culture, and current openings. Employers also receive pre-registered candidates\u2019 resumes in advance, which helps them plan and facilitate on-site interviews during the Career Summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice for Summit Participants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Crystal\u2019s biggest piece of advice: use the Career Summit to network intentionally. Building your network early, whether you are six months, a year, or even several years away from transitioning out of the service or changing careers, can make a meaningful difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Military-connected job seekers often face unique challenges, including frequent relocations that can make building and maintaining long-term professional networks more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Career Summits are structured to help you build that network strategically through LinkedIn-focused workshops and direct engagement with employers on the local, regional, and national levels. These connections help level the playing field for the military community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe have a saying at HOH: Your network is<\/em> your net worth in the civilian world.\u201d<\/p>\n\u2013 Crystal Kearns, HOH Director of Hiring Events<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Crystal also recommends visiting every booth at the hiring fair. Employers at these events often know each other well, and if they don\u2019t have the right opportunity for you, they may refer you to another organization that does. She also highlights the HOH booth as an essential stop for exploring resources, programs, virtual events, and the Veteran Employment Collective (VEC), which connects military community members with a broad network of trusted service organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On The Fence About Attending a Summit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Come anyway. Whether you\u2019re early in your transition, exploring new career paths, or only have a few minutes to stop by, you are welcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Crystal Kearns puts it, \u201cWe want to meet you where you are in your journey. So, attend, explore, learn, and connect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Career Summits are designed for every stage of the process. If you\u2019re just getting started, you\u2019ll discover tools and guidance to help you build a resume, understand high-demand industries, and begin growing your network. If you\u2019re further along, you will have the chance to connect directly with employers who are actively recruiting military talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resource: <\/strong>Download the Navigating Career Summits<\/a> one-page guide for a quick reference to all this information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your Checklist for Success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your next career opportunity could be at a Career Summit near you. Use this checklist to prepare, show up confidently, and maintain momentum afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the Event<\/h5>\n\n\n\n