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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she went to an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in various markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it started with a panel of from state companies, employment who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to answer employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

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

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, employment pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to help people discover profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, employment consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings 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 stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, employment seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and employment schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He described that participants need to identify the companies they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some employers. A senior info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.