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, employment and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, employment she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just attempt to benefit from 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 task fair on state employment, instead of employment in various markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.
Informational tables represented companies including 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 opportunity to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated 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 get ready for them, “gown 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 looking to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.
Education is an essential benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or employment they have seen the available chances and employment decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their career.”
Part of the education piece is discovering finances, 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “however 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 certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.
“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the road,” he stated.
That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.
“You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He discussed that attendees ought to determine the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior information technology specialist with the 16th Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.