Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune -- Marines milled about the small auditorium. Some came prepared with copies of their resumes ready hand to potential employers. Others came with no specific job in mind, but rather curiosity about what possible job opportunities awaited them outside the gate.
However, this was not a normal, run-of-the-mill job fair. It was the first Employer Recruitment Day sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services, which was held Feb. 11.
Twenty-three employers from local to international companies came to the base to recruit Marines and sailors preparing to leave the military.
“We have firefighters, policemen and medical representatives out here today,” said Lee Tuthill, transition assistance management program specialist with MCCS. “We have quite a variety.”
For Vernon Jeter, a human resources representative with WB Moore Company out of Charlotte, N.C., the opportunity to recruit on base is always a pleasure.
“I am a four-time offender,” he said. “We try to hire military whenever we can. We like the work ethic of veterans, so we come out to all of the recruitment events here and on Fort Bragg.”
The base generally holds large job fairs throughout the year, but decided on the recruitment day to create a more intimate environment for employers and job seekers.
“It is something new that we are trying,” said Tuthill. “Even though it is small, there are probably 200 jobs or more being offered here today. Marines have even said on their way out of the auditorium today that they already have an interview.”
More than 160 people attended the event, and although the turnout for the first recruitment day was a little less than expected Tuthill hopes the next one, which is tentatively scheduled to be held April 16, will garner many more job seekers and employers.
For information on upcoming Employer Recruitment Days visit the Web site mccslejeune.com.