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

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 has to offer, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than work in various industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and hornyofficebabes.com/archive/indian-office-porn/ 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 opportunity to discover out what type of chances exist here outside your back door,“ stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To get ready for them, „gown for success,“ bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to help people find out about career opportunities and hornyofficebabes.com/pics-blonde/ how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re „not ready to make that jump yet,“ or they have seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

„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 learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and „developing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,“ Handoe said.

„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,“ he stated, „however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?“

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He described that guests must identify the companies they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and lakarjobbisverige.se talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.