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 job applicants, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to benefit from 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 employment, instead of employment in various industries, made it different 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 responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to answer employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and 24-Hour Loan 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 opportunity to discover out what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and decreases practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction 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.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help people discover profession chances and www.working.co.ke how their abilities align with them, lakarjobbisverige.se Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a task reasonable, 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 stated.

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

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

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He described that participants need to identify the companies they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.