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 preparing for employment the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
„I just attempt 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 stated.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of in numerous markets, employment made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to respond to working with concerns, employment said Frank Handoe, 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 employment Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly event, the job fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,“ said Christopher Gentz, transition 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 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 wanting to do,“ Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a key benefit of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re „not prepared to make that jump yet,“ or they have seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.
„We see that essentially every year,“ he stated. „We desire them to make an informed choice about their career.“
Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and „developing 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 said, „but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?“
Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe said.
„You must be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the road,“ he stated.
That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.
„You need to enter into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe said.
He described that guests ought to identify the companies they wish to speak to and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.