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, www.opad.biz and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in different industries, 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 responded to questions. Following the panel, jobs.constructionproject360.com recruiters from state firms were readily available to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for wamc1950.com 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, rotaryjobmarket.com Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate 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, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals find out about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is out about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “building 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 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 http://www.thegrainfather.co.nz – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe said.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road,” he said.

That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.

“You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that participants should identify the business they want to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior details technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.