JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s preparing for the transition 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 opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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, 64.227.136.170 Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, 24-Hour Loan Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 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 said.

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

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

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 ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

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

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

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their working with practices, jobvn24.com Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

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

He explained that attendees must pinpoint the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit for educated discussions with employers.

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