JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s getting ready for job the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous industries, job made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, job it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor job for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, job transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about profession opportunities and job how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway,” he said.

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

“You need to go into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that attendees need to identify the business they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, job to permit for with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior information technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.