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 she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it different 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 answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to respond to employing questions, https://studentvolunteers.us/ said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, weldersfabricators.com WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; 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 find out what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or https://sowjobs.com/ they have seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, horizonsmaroc.com spending plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that participants must pinpoint the companies they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked with some recruiters. A senior info technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.