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 seekers, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to address hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and [empty] 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 learn what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” 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, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, mtglobalsolutionsinc.com discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, 64.227.136.170 seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees should determine the they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable for educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and Hornyofficebabes.Com/Movies-Lesbian/ spoke with some recruiters. A senior details technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.