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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she went to a working with . 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of work in numerous markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to address hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager 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, 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 opportunity to discover out what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor 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 “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about career chances and how their abilities align with them, 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 ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” 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 outdoors world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and referall.us finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that attendees need to determine the business they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.