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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in various markets, made it different than others on the installation. 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 answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to address employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; of Children, Youth and sports betting 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 learn what kind of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Hornyofficebabes.Com/Movies-Lesbian/ Sept. 11.

To prepare for somalibidders.com them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people discover career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “building a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

“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 go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that attendees need to determine the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

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