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Sectors Lighting Tech
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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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous industries, made it various 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to respond to employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.
Informational tables 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, Johnstown Housing Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for veteran supporter 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, “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 aiming to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn more about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.
Education is a crucial benefit of going to a job reasonable, 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 readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg 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 one day,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.
“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road,” he stated.
That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.
“You need to enter into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He discussed that participants ought to determine the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with employers.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some employers. A senior [empty] information innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.