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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances 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, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in different industries, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, horizonsmaroc.com recruiters from state agencies were offered to address hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and www.elitistpro.com Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and matchboyz.nl Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and 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 introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist people discover about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of attending a job fair, https://www.opad.biz/employer/chuhaipin as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg 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 one day,” he stated, “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 people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering 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 consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees should identify the business they want to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with 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 approaching civilian role.