JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Plenty of employment opportunities will be available for members of the military community at the Hiring Heroes Career Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 22 at the Sam Houston Community Center, building 1395, at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.
Seventy-four employers, from the private to the governmental sector, will be at the fair that is open to transitioning, wounded, ill and injured servicemembers, military spouses and family members, veterans, military retirees and primary caregivers.
The fair is free and open to all JBSA members. The Transition Assistance Program at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, or TAP, puts on the career fair twice a year. TAP provides counseling and job assistance to servicemembers who are preparing to leave the military.
Jon Vance, 802nd Force Support Squadron Transition Assistance Program transition services manager, said the fair provides an opportunity for JBSA members to network with recruiters and hiring managers from various Department of Defense, federal, state and governmental agencies and private sector companies and businesses.
“Networking is important to getting a job,” Vance said. “It gives them a great opportunity in one location to meet with employers who are looking to hire veterans.”
Attendees at the fair will be given a sheet that will list the employers who will be there and the tables they will be located at in the community center.
Vance said several employers at the fair offer positions in areas JBSA members are skilled, trained and experienced in, including cybersecurity, information technology, law enforcement, financial and medical.
Job seekers at the fair should come dressed in professional attire because some employers will conduct on the spot interviews, said Vance.
“Even if you don’t get an interview, you’re still making a first impression with those employers,” said Vance about wearing professional attire. “First impressions are always lasting impressions.”
In addition, attendees should consider bringing several copies of their resume to leave with employers for positions they are interested in.
At previous Hiring Heroes Career Fairs, an average of 10 JBSA members who were interviewed by employers have been hired by on the spot.
Since JBSA-Fort Sam Houston started hosting the Hiring Heroes Career Fair 10 years ago, the fairs average over 400 attendees. A record 623 people attended the last fair, which was held in September 2016.
Before going to the fair, there are several services and programs throughout JBSA that can help servicemembers, veterans and retirees who are looking for career opportunities.
On March 20, the Transition Information Program will hold a workshop from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Sam Houston Community Center. The workshop, which is open to transitioning or retiring servicemembers, will include information on networking, career transitioning and veterans education benefits, as well as focusing on putting together a 30-second pitch job seekers can use when talking to employers.
The workshop is being held in partnership with the Military and Veterans Community Collaborative, which coordinates the efforts of nonprofit and government organizations that help servicemembers and their families and veterans living in the San Antonio region in the areas of employment, education, housing, health and wellness.
To register for the workshop or for information about the Hiring Heroes Career Fair or TAP, contact Vance at 221-9255 or Jon.A.Vance.civ@mail.mil. Online registration is at http://tiny.cc/march20tip.
Transitioning or retiring servicemembers who want to set up interviews with a company, agency, or organization of their choice at the fair can contact and email their resume to Vance.
In addition, classes and workshops on employment readiness skills are offered at Military & Family Readiness Centers at three JBSA locations. Classes and workshops offered at JBSA M&FRCs include interviewing skills, resume writing, appropriate dress for interviews, how to navigate the USA Jobs website and how to put together a resume for a federal job position.
Information and a schedule of employment readiness classes and workshops at all three JBSA M&FRCs is at www.jbsa.mil/resources/military-family-readiness, under the events calendar tab, or by contacting JBSA-Fort Sam Houston M&FRC at 221-2418, JBSA-Lackland M&FRC at 671-3722 and JBSA-Randolph M&FRC at 652-5321.
Started in 2005, the Hiring Heroes Career Fairs are held at installations with medical treatment facilities throughout the U.S. The fairs are part of the Hiring Heroes Program, an outreach program of the DoD that provides job search assistance for wounded, ill, injured and transitioning service members and veterans and their spouses and main caregivers.
The next Hiring Heroes Career Fair and the next Transition Information Program workshop at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston will be in September.