CivilianJobs.com hosts career expo for military members, families

Approximately 300 active-duty and transitioning service members, retirees, veterans, reserve members and their families attended a career expo hosted by http://www.CivilianJobs.com at the Pacific Views South Mesa Club here, Nov. 3.

CivilianJobs.com is an organization that offers online job directory services for military members and veterans. Representatives sponsor between 38 and 40 career expos per year at military installations throughout the country.

The event served as an opportunity for those with military affiliations to meet with local and national employers, said Vicki Washington, director of CivilianJobs.com.

“Many times, transitioning military members attend job fairs out in town, where the attendance is much higher and they have to compete with civilians for face time with potential employers,” said Washington. “Our career expos limit participants to those with military affiliations, which means service members don’t have to compete with overwhelming crowds and employers can focus on speaking with people they know possess the desirable skill set the military is known for.”

More than 40 military-friendly organizations were on hand to speak with and interview job seekers for positions available locally, statewide, nationwide and overseas.

Potential hiring companies included Lockheed Martin, Gavin De Becker & Associates, Inc., Marine Corps Community Services, University of Phoenix, Veterans of Foreign Affairs, Amazon.com and Deaf Community Services of San Diego.

“This job fair is extremely beneficial for those who attend because with the job market the way it is right now, military members need the opportunity to start exploring their options early and thinking about how their skills will translate into the civilian market,” said David Baril, a representative for the Protective Security Division of Gavin De Becker & Associates, Inc., and major in the Marine Corps Reserve. “Every company here is military friendly. Many of us are prior or reserve military ourselves, which gives participants an opportunity to try out their communication skills and talk about what departments will best suit their military experience.”

Throughout the day, participants handed out resumes, gathered information on available companies and took advantage of the opportunity to build their network of contacts.

Several attendees said the benefits and the opportunities provided by the expo were too good to pass up.

“I’ll be transitioning out of the Marines soon, so I knew coming and getting information on what these companies offer and what they’re looking for would mean I’ll have a smoother transition when the time comes,” said Cpl. Kittu Hoke, a bulk fuel specialist with Bulk Fuel Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 1, 1st Marine Logistics Group. “This expo is giving me an opportunity to gather information and plan accordingly for my future.”

The overall goal of the day’s expo was for participants to extend their network, familiarize themselves with companies and their expectations and work on finding their fit once they transition into the civilian world, said Washington.

“We do what we do because we want service members, present and past, to know how much they’re appreciated,” said Washington, herself an Army veteran. “We want them to be prepared.”

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