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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities 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 offer, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it various 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, 이지론 WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and https://horizonsmaroc.com/entreprises/careerworksource 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 chance to discover what kind 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 will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and jobs.constructionproject360.com 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, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, [empty] including credit reports, budgets and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, sports betting Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that attendees should determine the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior info technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.