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 referall.us the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous markets, made it different than others on the setup. by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to address hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA 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, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 stated.

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

One of the job fair’s goals was to help individuals discover career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway,” he stated.

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

“You need to go into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that guests should determine the business they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

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