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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 job candidates, she went to an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I simply try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible, » she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and referall.us responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to address hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 opportunities exist here outdoors your back door, » said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To prepare for them, « gown for success, » bring your resume and your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a « quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do, » Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help people learn more about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re « not all set to make that jump yet, » or they have actually seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

« We see that basically every year, » he said. « We desire them to make an educated choice about their career. »

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans 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 said, « however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out? »

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

« You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the road, » he said.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

« You require to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around, » Handoe stated.

He explained that attendees ought to determine the business they want to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked with some employers. A senior details innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.