As he was planning his post-college next steps, Minsoo Choi, a mechanical engineering master's student, knew that securing an internship would be critical to launching his career.

However, getting noticed by a potential employer was a different story. Choi had applied for dozens of positions, receiving a handful of rejections and even fewer first-round interviews.

Last fall, Choi seized an opportunity make a real, human connection at the annual Future Forward event, sponsored by the Veterans Resource Center (VRC). The U.S. Army veteran talked with recruiters and practiced his interview skills. A few weeks later, he was offered a mechanical engineering internship at Northrop Grumman.

"I was able to talk to a Northrop Grumman recruiter and learned that share a hobby of 3D printing. We talked about his setup at home and my setup. I was fortunate to have that bond because it helped me stand out," Choi said. "He was a Marine veteran, and I was an Army veteran. We found our common ground."

Connecting Veterans with Job Opportunities

Choi's success story is one of many coming out of the Future Forward event, which the VRC hosts annually to help student veterans and military-affiliated students get a jump start on their career and post-college goals. The Nov. 4 event attracted about 75 students and dozens of CPP alumni and recruiters from a variety of organizations, including Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, City of Los Angeles, Caltrans, and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power.

Ernesto Soriano, a computer engineering student and Army veteran, had a positive experience. At the panel event with company recruiters, he asked questions and heard their perspectives. He also met 1-1 with Clark Rucker, CPP alumnus and retired Boeing executive, to deconstruct and rebuild his resume, an experience that Soriano described as "extremely helpful."

The best part, of course, was the job offer.

"From this event I received job offers from companies, and I accepted an offer from Lockheed Martin Space, which I am scheduled to start after graduation," said Soriano, who will graduate in May.

"I had been to other events in the past but none specifically targeting veterans. At this event, I knew that I would not just be one in a crowd of soon-to-be grads," he said. "Veterans are a small population in the United States. To know that an employer is interested in what you bring makes you feel understood and accepted. Representation matters."

CPP Partners with Military Friendly Employers

For more than a decade, the Veterans Resource Center has built a partnership with military-affiliated students, the university's faculty and staff, future employers and other supporters.

The Future Forward event is a special opportunity for students to connect with employers who want their unique education, skills, experiences and perspectives. At last year's event, it wasn't uncommon for a recruiter to spend up to 15 minutes with one student, and many reps stayed the entire day.

Margaret Paulin, campus relations manager for Lockheed Martin, appreciates the learn-by-doing foundation that Cal Poly Pomona students bring to the workplace. Military-affiliated students bring another level of maturity and understanding of what it takes to be successful.

"Veterans have extensive experience in working with diverse teams; they are organized and disciplined and possess a strong work ethic. More importantly they are problem solvers and able to adapt quickly to situations," Paulin said. "We are a military friendly employer that is proud to help veterans transition into careers at Lockheed Martin."

Choi, who plans to graduate in December, encourages all VRC students to attend the next event and be open to feedback and growth.

"They truly want to help the students," he said about the recruiters and Cal Poly Pomona alumni. "They don't criticize because they want to judge. They want to help. Some of the recruiters are military veterans so they're more straightforward. I feel that."

Tips for Students Attending Future Forward

1. Do your homework. Learn about the companies and organizations the event.
2. Connect with the VRC to get up to date info on participating employers.
3. Participate in VRC and Career Center's resume and mock interview workshops to prepare for the event.
4. Research the available jobs before the event. On the back of your resume, write down the position number so the rep knows what you've applied for.
5. Prepare a 1-minute pitch about your skills and experience.
6. Bring copies of your resume.
7. Arrive early.