Job seekers gain insight at joint base job fair

Published March 29, 2013
By Pascual Flores
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint base community members attended the Joint Base Job Fair to meet and offer resumes to the more than 30 representatives from various federal, state and local agencies March 21, 2013, at Tommy B's Community Activities Center here.

The four-hour fair, sponsored by the Military and Family Support Center, was the first job fair of the year and was attended by approximately 200 service members, civilians, Department of Defense contractors and other community members.

"The job-fair was a great success," said Rosalind Mercado-Yeager, MFSC community readiness consultant and job-fair coordinator. "Around 15 percent of those who attended are being considered for employment by various representatives."

Job representatives from various fields including transportation, law enforcement, fire control, insurance and medicine were all present.

"Civilians and service members from all branches of the military attended" said Mercado-Yeager. "The company representatives said they were impressed with the candidates and their resumes."

The MFSC conducts civilian resume writing workshops every second Wednesday of the month and federal resume writing workshops every third Wednesday of the month at 3435 Broidy Road.

'"Many of the participants came to resume classes before the fair," said Mercado-Yeager. "We encourage more to participate in the classes, so they can assure their resumes are top-notch."

The job fair came just in time for service members separating or retiring from the military.

"I am planning on retiring October 1, so I'm at the fair today looking to expand my job search and also take advantage of all the services that the base offers for soon-to-be retirees and separating service members," said Air Force Master Sgt. Carter Cort, 621st Contingency Response Wing resource advisor and Charlotte, N.C., native.

"I am an Army reservist currently on active-duty orders and I know that at some point my orders are going to be up and I will have to demobilize, so I'm here to see what is available," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Richard Sandish, 2nd Battalion, 309th Regiment, 174 Infantry Brigade, driver training instructor and Browns Mills, N.J., native. "Also, I have a son who just got out of college and he is looking too, so I'm going to bring him some information to him."

Monthly mini-job fairs are currently being planned by MFSC with the next fair for April 26, 2013, at the Timmermann Center. Call 754-3154 for more information.