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 seekers, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 discover what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” 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 prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.
An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist people learn more about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a key benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated decision about their career.”
Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.
“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,” he stated.
That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.
“You need to enter into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.
He explained that participants should pinpoint the business they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, to permit for referall.us educated discussions with recruiters.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some employers. A senior information innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.