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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

«I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,» she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment 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, recruiters from state companies were available to answer working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, [empty] 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 event, the job fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,» stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 «fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,» Handoe stated, https://rhea-recrutement.com mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people learn more about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re «not prepared to make that dive yet,» or they have seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and «constructing 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, «but 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 trying to find — including accreditations, accreditations and education — and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for task fairs.

«You need to enter into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,» Handoe stated.

He discussed that guests need to identify the companies they want to talk to and horizonsmaroc.com research study them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior information with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.