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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 [empty] 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 fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than 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 companies, who shared their and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, mtglobalsolutionsinc.com Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door, » stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, « gown for success, » bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a « fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do, » Handoe said, https://horizonsmaroc.com/entreprises/grainfather discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to help people learn more about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re « not prepared to make that jump yet, » or they have seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, linked web site 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 one day, » he said, « however while you’re 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 looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for task 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 stated.

He described that participants need to pinpoint the business they desire to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable for educated conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.