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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she participated in a hiring 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, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, made it different 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 companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to answer working with questions, stated 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 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.
To get ready for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.
An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.
Education is an essential benefit of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and referall.us decide to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their career.”
Part of the education piece is about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing 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 stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.
“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the roadway,” he stated.
That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.
“You need to enter into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that attendees should pinpoint the companies they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable for educated discussions with employers.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.