Posted on 11/01/2005 4:01:23 PM PST by SandRat
GULFPORT, Miss. (NNS) -- The Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) aboard Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport hosted a Job Fair with local community employers in the Navy Exchange (NEX) plaza on base Oct. 31.
Information about hundreds of hourly and salary positions available in the Gulf Coast was available for military personnel and their families looking for employment.
Pam Phillips, a Work and Family Life consultant with the Gulfport FFSC, arranged for 25 businesses and organizations to come out to the base for the day to showcase their employment opportunities.
“When I started calling area employers, I found out that there were so many ready to come in the front gate. The employers are targeting this group of people because they know of their strong work ethic and 'can do' attitude,” Phillips said.
Businesses represented at the job fair included: AutoZone; BE&K; Construct All; Cracker Barrel; Domino’s Pizza; Executive Protective Services; Gulfport Police; Hancock Bank; High Performance Solutions; Home Depot; O’Charley’s; Oreck; Love’s; R.S. Staffing; Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Mississippi Regional Housing Authority; Moses Electric/Upchurch Plumbing; Navy Exchange; Southeastern Door/Window; Security AKAL; Subway; University of Southern Mississippi; Waffle House; WIN Job Center; and 84 Lumber.
“I’m trying to fill 120 hourly positions and about 10 management positions at Waffle House,” David St. Hilaire, Mississippi Gulf Coast Waffle House division manager said as he arranged free giveaways on his table to attract prospective employers. “We lost seven restaurants, gone completely and we have nine restaurants where we’ve reopened after fixing damage but many of the associates haven’t been able to come back. We need people now!” St. Hilaire said.
Al Brooken. a veteran’s representative with Mississippi Department of Employment Security, said his goal at the job fair was to educate military members and their spouses about the state services available to help them in job searching.
“We match people to jobs, we do training, and all our services are free,” Brooken said.
Chief Personnelman Allen Reling walked through the plaza getting information from various employers.
“I live in Slidell, but haven’t seen a job fair down there and I retire in April. It’s a good time to find a job," he said. "They are out there, especially if you’re willing to work."
Even on base, employers were taking advantage of the military audience at the job fair.
“We’re doing double the volume of business with all the relief workers, and we need six or seven employees at this store,” said Marie Porter, owner of the Subway on base.
Two Seabee spouses, Jessica Feay and Samantha Rogerson moved through the job fair speaking to employers about customer service jobs. They said they just moved to the area and had never been to a job fair like this one before.
“It’s great to have everything all together in one spot on base. I’ve already applied for two jobs today,” Rogerson said.
The Gulfport FFSC is working hard to do everything it can for Gulf Coast Navy families affected by Hurricane Katrina.
“We’ve never had a job fair on base before,” Phillips said.
Task Force Navy Family is working to help Navy families, Sailors, Department of the Navy civilians, retirees and family members, recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina and Rita.
For Navy Family members who need additional information or assistance, please call the Navy Personnel Command’s Emergency Coordination Center at (877) 414-5358, or visit www.navy.mil.
Job help for the Gulf Coast. Interesting, they want military work values; not just anyone.
BTTT
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