JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

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

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession 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 offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,» she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in various markets, 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 responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to answer employing questions, horizonsmaroc.com said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the task fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,» stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To prepare for them, «dress 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 aiming to do,» Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people find out about career chances and teachersconsultancy.com how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re «not ready to make that dive yet,» or they have seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

«We see that essentially every year,» he said. «We want them to make an informed decision about their career.»

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and «building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,» Handoe said.

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

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

«You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,» he stated.

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

«You need to enter into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,» Handoe said.

He explained that attendees ought to determine the companies they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to enable for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some employers. A senior details technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, empleosrapidos.com she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.