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 [Redirect-302] the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than work in numerous markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employment.bz recruiters from state agencies were available to respond to employing questions, stated 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition 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 get ready 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 looking to do,” Handoe said, www.opad.biz pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals find out about and ukcarers.co.uk how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

“You need 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 consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He explained that guests ought to determine the business they desire to talk to and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.