NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
December 31, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-82
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
352ND CIVIL AFFAIRS COMMAND COORDINATES JOB FAIR IN BAGHDAD
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The soldiers of Task Force 1st Armored Division's 352nd Civil Affairs Command and the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, both from Riverdale, Md., coordinated a job fair recently at the Baghdad Convention Center.
As managers of the Iraqi Assistance Center, the civil affairs soldiers aid Iraqis with medical issues, help them search for family members who might be detainees, and offer job assistance.
"In preparation for the job fair, we have firm commitments from human resource staffing coordinators from Titan, Proctor and Gamble, USAID and Bechtel," said Lt. Col. Vanetta Ratcliffe, economy and commerce team chief with the 354th Civil Affairs Brigade, which is part of Task Force 1st Armored Division. "Some 450 invitational flyers were passed out or e-mailed to locations such as Baghdad University. We expected about 200 participants."
The job fair kicked off with registration of participants. The fair included two workshops: "How to Prepare a Western-Style Resume" and "How to Conduct Oneself in a Job Interview."
Afterward, clients gave a 15 to 20 minute overview of their company, which was followed by networking between clients and applicants, said Ratcliffe. During the fair, clients provided copies of the positions available, application forms and face-to-face discussions with potential candidates. There were approximately 350 jobs available.
According to Ratcliffe, the intent is to bring publicity to the Iraqi Assistance Center and Iraqi Business Center "to attract employers to use our services." The lessons learned from this event will go a long way to assist the economy and commerce team in planning a spring career fair. In practice, the event will help the soldiers and the employers get a better feel for participant expectations, makeup of the candidate pool, perception and logistics to support this event.
"Jobs give people a sense of worth, self-respect, a way to support their families and an active role in the reconstruction of their own nation," said Col. Scott Brennan, director of the 352nd Civil Affairs Command. "A person who is employed is much less likely to take their frustrations and aggravations out on Coalition Forces or on the Iraqi public."
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