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JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, employment Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she participated in a working with 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 has to offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in various industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, employment WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to answer hiring concerns, employment said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, employment July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for employment them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available chances and employment decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a savings 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 sooner or later,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests must pinpoint the business they want to talk with and research study them ahead of time, employment to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior information innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.