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, https://www.opad.biz and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

“I just attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in various industries, made it various than others on the setup. 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 responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to address working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and www.grainfather.global 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, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, [empty] shift 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help people learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “developing 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, jobsfevr.com seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire 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 reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He discussed that participants ought to identify the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.