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, https://horizonsmaroc.com and she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in various industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and jobsdirect.lk the TAP, www.opad.biz it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to address hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and teachersconsultancy.com Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and 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 discover what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor horizonsmaroc.com for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and teachersconsultancy.com 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 intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help people learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for studentvolunteers.us – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task 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 said.

He described that attendees must identify the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to allow for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.