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 task candidates, [empty] she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to benefit from 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 stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, [empty] WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were readily available to answer hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, jobteck.com transition services manager 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, “gown for success,” bring your resume and [empty] practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals discover profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

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

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

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, internship.af seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their working with 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 stated.

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to enter into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that guests need to determine the companies they desire to talk to and studentvolunteers.us research study them ahead of time, to enable for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and 64.227.136.170 talked to some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.