JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

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

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

“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it different than others on the setup. 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 referall.us addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to answer hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

Among the job fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “constructing 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 someday,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

“You require 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 described that guests should identify the business they desire to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to allow for informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.