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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 the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to address working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor referall.us for the TAP.
Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.
An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the job fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a key benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their career.”
Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their working with practices, Handoe said.
“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.
That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.
“You need to go into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He explained that participants need to determine the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior details innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.