ASC's Career Fair a success

  • Published
  • By Josh Aycock
  • 88 Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Six months ago, 5,000 job seekers filled the Wright State Nutter Center vying for some 50-60 jobs at the Aeronautical Systems Center Career Fair. Since that time over 160 people have been employed and have a home at Wright-Patt.

"This has been great for both ASC and the people we've hired," said Jennifer Melton, strategic workforce planning. "Attrition, and new work coming to ASC, gave us the opportunity to hire more than our original goal, and because of the success of the career fair, we had high quality applicants readily available."

The events goal was to build an inventory of highly qualified professionals with experience in the areas of Finance, Contracting, Engineering, Logistics, and Program Management to fill vacancies in ASC throughout the rest of 2009 and into 2010. The goal of hiring 50-60 individuals was short lived after ASC received some 4,300 resumes at the event.

Many of those applicants were from just outside the fence within the Dayton area.

"Many of the individuals hired were employed by area businesses that have closed or will be moving out of the area," said Melton. "Many of our hires noted that without the employment resulting from this event, they would likely have moved out of the area. So they are happy to remain in the Dayton area close to family and friends."

While the majority of those hired do not have aircraft-related experience, they are quickly learning the nuances of Air Force weapon system acquisition; fast becoming part of the long traditions of technical excellence required at ASC.

"The acquisition program offices where new hires have been assigned are pleased and impressed with the overall quality of these new employees," said Melton.

The next ASC Career Fair is currently slated for May. The spring career fair aims to let ASC refresh its inventory of candidates. The fair will enable newly available candidates or those who missed last year's event to participate. In addition, it allows participants the opportunity to update their resumes for newly acquired experience and to again meet with functional representatives who will be making hiring decisions.