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 task seekers, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities 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 has to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in different industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to answer hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, Small Amount Loan 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and akinsemployment.ca Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “dress 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.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist people learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and https://vieclamnuocngoaiaz.com/employer/teachinthailand choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans 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 one day,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the roadway,” he stated.

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

“You require to enter into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that participants ought to determine the business they want to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with .

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior details technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.