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 [Redirect-307] she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, jobteck.com instead of in numerous markets, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to address employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, remotejobscape.com 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 Horny-Office-Babes 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 learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, 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 said.

An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe said, informedica.llc mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn more about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.

That preparation work consists of preparing 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 said.

He explained that participants must identify the business they want to speak with and research them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some employers. A senior https://horizonsmaroc.com/entreprises/tempjobsindia/ infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.