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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she participated in a hiring 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, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,» she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it various 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 companies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were offered to respond to 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 [empty] 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 event, the job fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,» stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a «quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,» Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help people discover profession chances and inquiry how their skills line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re «not all set to make that dive yet,» or they have seen the offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

«We see that essentially every year,» he stated. «We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.»

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budgets and «constructing a nest egg 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 sooner or later,» he said, «but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?»

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, [empty] seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for — including accreditations, accreditations and [empty] schooling — and learning about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

«You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the roadway,» he said.

That prep work includes preparing for https://recrutamentotvde.pt job 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 discussed that participants must determine the business they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

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