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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, celest-interim.fr she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and akinsemployment.ca the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, sowjobs.com employers from state companies were offered to address employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, [Redirect-302] Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition 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 prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives 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 participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out 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 go out,” Handoe stated.

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

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the roadway,” he said.

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that guests should determine the companies they want to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.