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 the transition at Joint Base .

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous 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 addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to address employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 occasion, the job fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,» said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager 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 stated.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people discover career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a task fair, https://internship.af as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re «not ready to make that dive yet,» or they have actually seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and «developing a savings 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 stated, «however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?»

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for https://teachersconsultancy.com/employer/147801/mmu – consisting of certifications, accreditations and https://horizonsmaroc.com education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

«You need 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 includes preparing for job fairs.

«You need to go into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,» Handoe stated.

He described that attendees need to pinpoint the business they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.