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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, employment she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
„I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,“ she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, employment it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to address working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, employment deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.
Informational tables represented companies including 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 occasion, the job fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,“ said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.
To get ready for them, „gown for success,“ bring your resume and employment 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 said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the job fair’s objectives was to help people find out about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a key advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re „not all set to make that jump yet,“ or they have actually seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, employment Gentz said.
„We see that generally every year,“ he stated. „We want them to make an informed choice about their career.“
Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, employment including credit reports, budgets and „constructing a savings so you have something to work 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 everything you can to prepare to get out?“
Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning about their employing practices, Handoe stated.
„You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,“ he stated.
That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.
„You need to go into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe said.
He explained that participants need to identify the business they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable for informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.
