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 seekers, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than in numerous markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, jobvn24.com it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, internship.af WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, teachersconsultancy.com Youth and 64.227.136.170 Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager 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, “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 stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist people learn more about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budget 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 everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and Car Loan finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees should identify the companies they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.