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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she attended an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, decreases it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and [Redirect-302] responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to address working with concerns, 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, www.elitistpro.com July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, horizonsmaroc.com Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, topdubaijobs.ae discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals discover profession opportunities and how their abilities 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 discover they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed decision about their career.”

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

“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 go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, .

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the road,” he stated.

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

“You need to go into a working with fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that attendees must identify the companies they want to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit for inquiry informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.