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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

„I just attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to answer working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for Small Amount Loan 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 Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,“ stated Christopher Gentz, flytteogfragttilbud.dk transition services manager for [empty] the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a „quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,“ Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re „not all set to make that dive yet,“ or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

„We see that essentially every year,“ he said. „We want them to make an educated choice about their profession.“

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and „constructing a nest egg 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 one day,“ he stated, „however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?“

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

„You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the road,“ he said.

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

„You need to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,“ Handoe stated.

He discussed that participants should identify the companies they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

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