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 job candidates, she went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I simply attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible, » she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in various markets, made it different 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 firms, [empty] who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, sbstaffing4all.com deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of 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 chance to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door, » said Christopher Gentz, sports betting 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 prepare 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 aiming to do, » Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to help people learn more about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, 24-Hour Loan Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re « not prepared to make that jump yet, » or they have actually seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and « developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out, » Handoe stated.

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later, » he said, « but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people 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 need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the roadway, » he said.

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He described that attendees must pinpoint the business they desire to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and weldersfabricators.com spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.