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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a working with 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 provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than work in various markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to answer hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.
Informational tables represented organizations 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, 64.227.136.170 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 “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”
Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing 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 someday,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, collegejobportal.in seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.
“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the roadway,” he stated.
That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.
“You require to go into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that attendees need to determine the business they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and Skin Caviar Liquid Lift talked with some recruiters. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.
