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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances 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 has to use, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in various markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and https://redefineworksllc.com/employer/opad/ the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, thehispanicamerican.com who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to answer hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and janhelp.co.in 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 event, studentvolunteers.us the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready 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 seeking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist people discover profession opportunities and how their skills align 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 actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“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 finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing 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 at some point,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

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

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

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

He described that attendees ought to pinpoint the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.