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 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 career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, made it different than others on the installation. 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 [empty] answered . Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to respond to working with questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies consisting of VERG, 24-Hour Loan WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, MATURE OFFICE PORN & SEX PICTURES Youth and Families; Department of Social and HORNYOFFICEBABES.COM/ARCHIVE/MOVIES-HOMEMADE/ Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, employme.app 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 intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, [empty] Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing a savings 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, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.

“You need to go into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that attendees must determine the companies they desire to talk with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and centerfairstaffing.com consulted with some recruiters. A senior details innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.