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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, 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 has to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she said.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 event, the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,“ stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 stated.
An pitch is a „fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,“ Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn more about career chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re „not all set to make that jump yet,“ or they have actually seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.
„We see that generally every year,“ he said. „We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.“
Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and „developing 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 stated, „but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?“
Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.
„You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the road,“ he stated.
That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.
„You need to go into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe stated.
He discussed that attendees should determine the business they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with employers.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, referall.us she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.