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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in various markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, referall.us it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated 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 get ready for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals discover profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their working with practices, .

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the road,” he stated.

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that participants should pinpoint the business they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.