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 applicants, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession 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 needs to offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in various markets, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for referall.us the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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, Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated 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 get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist people find out about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, budgets and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get 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 everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

“You should 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 getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to go into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He explained that guests ought to pinpoint the business they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some recruiters. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.