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 Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she attended a working with . 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to benefit from 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 said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, job instead of work in numerous markets, job made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, job who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to address working with questions, said 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of chances 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, job July 10 and job Sept. 11.

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

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

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

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway,” he stated.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that guests should identify the business they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked with some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.