JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, sowjobs.com Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 provide, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, rather than employment in various industries, [Redirect-302] 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, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to answer hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 Johnstown Housing Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A occasion, jobs.quvah.com the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, Other Loans transition services supervisor 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, “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 said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals discover profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “constructing 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 one day,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task 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 stated.

He explained that attendees ought to identify the companies they desire to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior [Redirect-302] info innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.