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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

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

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in various markets, Johnstown Housing 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 companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to address employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including 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 event, the job fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,“ stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and 24-Hour Loan Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, „dress 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 wanting to do,“ Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re „not prepared to make that dive yet,“ or they have actually seen the available opportunities and sports betting choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

„We see that basically every year,“ he said. „We desire them to make an informed choice about their career.“

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and „building a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,“ Handoe stated.

„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,“ he said, „however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?“

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and studentvolunteers.us schooling – and inquiry discovering about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

„You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,“ he stated.

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

„You require to go into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe stated.

He explained that guests ought to pinpoint the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, https://sowjobs.com/employer/servicosvip/ she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.