ATASCOSA, Texas \u2013 The San Antonio College First Responders Academy hosted a career fair Saturday to connect its students with departments actively looking to hire.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a great opportunity for fire departments and police departments to kind of see the candidates that are coming out of school,\u201d said Jennifer Hoyt, a firefighter and adjunct instructor.<\/p>\n
The fair, produced in collaboration with the Career Readiness & Experiential Opportunities Office, sought to help place its police and firefighting students with agencies in Bexar County and beyond.<\/p>\n
While the application process can be competitive, there are also many openings as Bexar County and surrounding Texas communities\u2019 populations continue to grow.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re having a real hard time trying to find that next candidate,\u201d Hoyt said, \u201cso this is a great place to come, one-stop shop between the police academy and the fire academy, to look for that next best employee.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Saturday, 27 police and fire agencies sent representatives from across Bexar County. The Dallas Police Department was also in attendance. <\/p>\n
Bexar County Emergency Service District No. 2 Chief Ralph Rodriguez said that the academy\u2019s curriculum puts its students in high demand following graduation, building a strong reputation for its students.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll we have to do is hire them and then train them up to the policies and procedures and the way we respond to incidents,\u201d Rodriguez said, \u201cnot having to put them through a full academy.\u201d<\/p>\n
An academy official said 90-95% of last year\u2019s graduation class were placed with a department prior to walking the stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very helpful. It was very empowering,\u201d student attendee Brenda Cabral said. \u201cI feel very supported and very encouraged to start this journey.\u201d<\/p>\n