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 candidates, she went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

„I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the installation. 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 questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, studentvolunteers.us 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 type of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 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 looking to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is an essential advantage of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re „not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

„We see that basically every year,” he said. „We desire them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and „constructing 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 sooner or later,” he stated, „however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for essencialponto.com.br – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

„You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the road,” he said.

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

„You require to enter into an employing reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that attendees must pinpoint the business they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, studentvolunteers.us to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.