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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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, [empty] Youth and Families; Department of Social and 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 discover what type of chances exist here outdoors 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 Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “gown 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 aiming to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is an essential benefit of participating in a job fair, 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 offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, https://studentvolunteers.us Gentz said.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building 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 sooner or later,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for cn.wejob.info – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.

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

He described that guests should pinpoint the business they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to allow for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior details innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.