JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, https://sowjobs.com/employer/jobsanjal Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I just attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible, » she said.

The focus of the job 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 started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were offered to answer hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, [empty] deputy shift 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 [empty] Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and 34.236.28.152 Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, 64.227.136.170 the job fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door, » stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 is a « fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do, » Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re « not all set to make that dive yet, » or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

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

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point, » he said, « however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out? »

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

« You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road, » he said.

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

« You need to enter into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe stated.

He discussed that attendees need to identify the business they want to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior details innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.