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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she went to an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State 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 offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different industries, 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 companies, who shared their experiences and teachersconsultancy.com addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to respond to employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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, sowjobs.com Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor accountshunt.com 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 prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

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

“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building a savings 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’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He explained that participants must identify the companies they desire to talk with and research them ahead of time, to allow for studentvolunteers.us educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, [empty] she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.