JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she attended a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
„I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,“ she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous markets, 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 firms, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were offered to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.
Informational tables represented of VERG, WorkSource and 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 event, the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back door,“ stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.
To get ready 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 looking to do,“ Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s goals was to help people find out about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.
Education is an essential benefit of going to a task reasonable, referall.us as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re „not prepared to make that jump yet,“ or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.
„We see that essentially every year,“ he said. „We want them to make an educated decision about their profession.“
Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and „developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,“ Handoe said.
„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,“ he stated, „but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?“
Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and learning about their hiring practices, Handoe said.
„You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the road,“ he said.
That prep work consists of getting ready for task fairs.
„You require to go into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe said.
He discussed that guests should pinpoint the business they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to allow for informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior information technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.