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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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
« I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to answer employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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 learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance, » stated Christopher Gentz, employment shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and 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 « fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do, » Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s goals was to help people discover career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.
Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re « not prepared to make that jump yet, » or they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
« We see that basically every year, » he stated. « We desire them to make an informed decision about their career. »
Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and « developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out, » Handoe stated.
« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day, » he stated, « but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »
Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe said.
« You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the road, » he said.
That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.
« You need to go into a hiring reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe stated.
He explained that participants should identify the companies they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.