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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment 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 responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to address hiring questions, said 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 www.opad.biz 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 discover what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance, » said Christopher Gentz, jobs.kwintech.co.ke transition 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 get ready for them, « dress 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, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help people learn more about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

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

« We see that generally every year, » he said. « We desire them to make an informed decision about their profession. »

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and « developing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out, » Handoe said.

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day, » he said, « but while you remain 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 searching for https://horizonsmaroc.com – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing 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 explained that attendees should identify the companies they desire to speak with and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.

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