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 task applicants, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in different industries, 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, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, dessinateurs-projeteurs.com deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of 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 discover out what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” said 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 “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about career chances and studentvolunteers.us how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, akinsemployment.ca budget plans and “constructing 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 one day,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that participants should determine the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable for informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.