PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – We have a few more days before golfers hit the links in The Players Championship, but one of its most popular events brought hundreds of military members out a little early.
It's the military job fair and for the last three years it's given military men, women and their families the chance to meet with local companies with open positions.
The focus is on,connecting military men, women and veterans like Jared Zarbo with employers looking to hire.
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"For people like me, a lot of military guys, we have no idea what we want to be yet and when people say they'll ask us what are you looking for and we kind of like I don't know, that's why I'm here," said Zarbo, a 4-year military veteran.
Zarbo is looking to get in the job market after going to school and thought the job fair was a great place to start. He joined hundreds of other military men and women hoping to make the transition from military to civilian life.
The job fair is a partnership between The Players and the Jacksonville Military Coalition.
"It provides veterans that comfort knowing that, hey, this is Jacksonville, this is my city, my city wants to help me, so I'm going to accept their help. So I think this is a great thing," said Zarbo.
Michelle Sheridan is with Prudential Financial, one of nearly 50 companies at the job fair with positions to fill.
"Our military pool is our most successful because of the fact they know what to do, they know how to get there, and they're successful and they make a lot of money," said Sheridan.
She expects to hire some of the people she's met at the fair.
Last year nearly 500 military men and women came to the job fair. This year organizers are hoping even more people will attend because the job fair is now open to the spouses of members of the military.
Also new this year: help with resume writing and entrepreneurship.
The PGA Tour, specifically The Players, says it's a small way to say thank you.
"You serve in Iraq or Afghanistan or wherever, and the sacrifices that you and your family make, the least that you can do when you get back is to have a job," said Matt Rapp, executive director of The Players.