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 .

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to take advantage of 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 job fair on state employment, [empty] 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, recruiters from state companies were offered to address hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help people learn more about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in 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 actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, consisting of 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 someday,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and dessinateurs-projeteurs.com finding out about their hiring practices, 34.236.28.152 Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees ought to identify the companies they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked with some recruiters. A senior info technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.