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Sectors Lighting Tech
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JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, employment Wash. – Staff Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to answer hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for 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, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly event, employment the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for 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 “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the job fair’s goals was to help people learn more about profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, employment Gentz stated.
Education is a crucial advantage of going to a task fair, employment as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “building 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 stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe said.
“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the road,” he stated.
That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.
“You require to enter into a hiring fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.
He explained that attendees should identify the business they desire to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior information innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.