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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 few weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a working with fair 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 offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, job rather than work in numerous industries, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to respond to employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 job Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door, » stated Christopher Gentz, transition 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, « gown 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 wanting to do, » Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re « not prepared to make that jump yet, » or they have actually seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

« We see that basically every year, » he stated. « We want them to make an educated decision about their career. »

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, job consisting of credit reports, budgets and « constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out, » Handoe said.

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday, » he stated, « however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, job seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

« You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe said.

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

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