FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- The Fort Rucker Job Fair gets job seekers and employers together Aug. 10 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Landing.
The fair, in its seventh year, is expected to attract about 60 businesses, according to Debbie Gaydos, Employment Readiness Program manager.
Roughly 15 percent of the businesses are local and the rest are government contractors, Gaydos said.
One representative, Melissa Flores, Army and Air Force Exchange Service human resources technician, hired more than 20 people for worldwide AAFES positions last year, and said she is seeking more qualified candidates this year. AAFES hires individuals to fill retail, managerial, loss prevention and other positions.
Flores said she looks for candidates with retail and supervisory skills - strengths, she said, should stand out on rAfAsumAfAs.
Attending the job fair here benefits AAFES because staff finds applicants with many desirable traits.
"We're always looking to employ spouses or military (members) who are transitioning. They understand the whole purpose of AAFES - we're here to support our troops. They know the military environment," Flores said.
There are a few things people can do to ruin their chances of finding employment. She said not dressing to impress can make or break a hiring manager's decision. She encouraged people to wear professional business attire, and steer clear of summer favorites like shorts and flip flops.
Casey Tomberlin represents Picerne Military Housing at the job fair, and said the company has several customer service and maintenance positions available this year. Picerne looks for several key qualities in potential employees, the human resources manager noted.
"Our mission is 'Families First.' (Employees must be) loyal to the company and have passion for what they do. We like to have people (who) are very team-oriented," Tomberlin said.
Like Flores, she said she hopes to see military Family members at the fair, since she believes they make good matches with Picerne.
"They are the perfect people to be in our positions because they're working directly with military members and spouses. It helps because they give us a different perspective. They typically have the passion we're looking for," Tomberlin said.
She agreed with Flores that maintaining a professional appearance is critical.
Tomberlin also said it's important for candidates to be respectful of business representatives and to be knowledgeable about the jobs they're applying for.
Even with some companies willing to hire, the job market is still challenging to break into, but Gaydos said she has seen a significant increase in the number of local civilian companies hiring.
Because positions are limited and unemployment numbers high, "It's an employer's market out there," said Bryan Tharpe, Army Career and Alumni Program transition services manager.
Therefore, it is critical job seekers know their strengths and how to market themselves, he said.
First impressions are everything - employers consider candidates' apparel, amounts of eye contact, handshakes and attitudes, Gaydos noted.
"The moment (people) make contact with a recruiter, the interview has begun," she said. "The market is flooded with great, talented applicants. Stand tall above them by marketing yourself."
If first impressions don't go so smoothly, she recommends people revisit representatives toward the fair's end to thank them for their time and shake hands again. People should always send handwritten thank you notes to their contacts immediately after the event.
Well-crafted rAfAsumAfAs are also essential, Gaydos and Tharpe said. Many companies do not accept hard copy rAfAsumAfAs, and ask for online applications only, due to February 2006 federal regulations, Gaydos said.
A list of job fair vendors can be found at <a href="http://www.ftruckermwr.com" target="_blank">www.ftruckermwr.com</a> and is updated every other day as new companies sign up.
She suggested interested candidates apply online before the fair and attend to make face-to-face contact with businesses' representatives. People should still bring about 25 copies of their rAfAsumAfAs to the job fair, just in case.
Gaydos noted people with multiple skill sets should create several tailored rAfAsumAfAs, instead of relying on one generic format.
The job fair is not designed for "window shoppers," or people not seriously seeking work, Gaydos said.
Any contact with a business representative is an interview, and should be treated as such, she said.
"You are being evaluated, whether it is for 30 seconds or 30 minutes. You always need to be at your very best," Gaydos said.
With adequate preparation, serious job seekers and employers should both be able to find what they're looking for, Gaydos and Tharpe said.
"Working a job fair is like an endurance athletic event," Gaydos said. "It requires stamina for a sustained period (of) up to three hours. Make sure you're well rested, fed and hydrated before the fair."
Social Sharing