Robert Jewusiak left the Navy in 1980 and then spent 27 years working for as a union cement finisher in New Jersey.
On Thursday, Jewusiak was looking for work at the “Paychecks for Patriots” hiring fair for veterans held at Chattanooga State Community College’s Health Sciences Center.
“This is the first time I’ve looked for work in 35 years,” said Jewusiak, who’s semi-retired. “I had enough time in my union job up north to retire. But if I start eating into that now, it’ll kill me.”
He was among about 80 job-seeking veterans who came to see what some 20 area employers had to offer.
“So far, we’ve had two definite hires,” said Donna Mason, a career specialist for the Tennessee Department of Labor, which put on the third annual statewide event in partnership with Dollar General and 25 other employers in Tennessee.