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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

„I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,“ she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in different industries, made it different 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 firms, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to respond to working with concerns, stated 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 Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, [empty] the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,“ said Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, „gown for success,“ bring your resume and [empty] practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

Among the job fair’s goals was to assist people discover profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re „not prepared to make that dive yet,“ or they have actually seen the available chances and https://studentvolunteers.us/employer/xpressrh/ decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

„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 finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and „building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,“ Handoe stated.

„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 likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

„You require to go into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe said.

He discussed that guests must pinpoint the business they wish to consult with and altaqm.nl research them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.