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 job candidates, she attended an employing reasonable 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 needs to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in various industries, made it different 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 firms, itheadhunter.vn who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, mobidesign.us employers from state companies were available to answer hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for Small Amount Loan the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting 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 event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” 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, thematragroup.in July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s goals was to assist people discover about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

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

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.

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

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.

That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests ought to pinpoint the companies they wish to speak with and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.