JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in various markets, 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 concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were offered to address hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for 34.236.28.152 them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and 24-Hour Loan practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, flytteogfragttilbud.dk Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, [empty] budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, [empty] seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

“You need to enter into a hiring fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that guests should determine the business they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to allow for informed discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.