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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession 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 use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in various industries, 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, [empty] who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to address working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

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

A quarterly event, hornyofficebabes.com/pics-gay/ the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated 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, “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 said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and “developing 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 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 people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep 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 discussed that attendees ought to identify the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to allow for informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior information innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.