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 job seekers, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, https://www.opad.biz/employer/jobs-4me/ who shared their experiences and horizonsmaroc.com answered concerns. Following the panel, jobs.kwintech.co.ke employers from state companies were readily available to answer employing concerns, https://teachersconsultancy.com said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 prepare for them, “dress 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 job fair’s goals was to learn more about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a task 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 seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans 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 remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their employing 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 stated.

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

“You need to enter into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that participants should pinpoint the business they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.