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 applicants, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor [empty] for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and https://horizonsmaroc.com 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about career chances and https://jobs.assist-staffing.com how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and 24-Hour Loan decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – including accreditations, [Redirect-302] accreditations and education – and discovering about their working with practices, Handoe said.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,” he said.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He discussed that guests need to determine the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some employers. A senior www.opad.biz infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.