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, and ukcarers.co.uk she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, 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 needs to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, inquiry rather than employment in different industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to answer hiring concerns, decreases said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

represented companies 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 opportunity to discover out what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, Johnstown Housing discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help people discover career opportunities and how their skills 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 ready to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings 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’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the road,” he stated.

That preparation work includes 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 said.

He described that guests need to pinpoint the companies they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and inquiry talked to some recruiters. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.