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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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

« I simply attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible, » she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in different industries, made it various 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 answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to respond to employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, sports betting WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and decreases 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 type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door, » stated Christopher Gentz, akinsemployment.ca shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, sports betting 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 « quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do, » Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is a key advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re « not ready to make that dive yet, » or referall.us they have seen the available chances 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 profession. »

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and « constructing a nest egg 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, « but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out? »

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for [empty] – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.

« You must be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway, » he said.

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that attendees must identify the companies they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and www.cbl.health talked to some recruiters. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.