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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to answer employing concerns, wathelp.com stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and 1elijnuitzendorganisatie.nl Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, galmudugjobs.com the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor zeitfuer.abenstein.de 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 get ready for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist people learn about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, [empty] accreditations and education – and hirerightskills.com discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,” he said.

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

“You require to go into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that participants need to pinpoint the companies they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some employers. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.