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, [empty] and she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and inquiry the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to respond to working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager 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; of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, [empty] the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what type of chances exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task 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 stated.

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

One of the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

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

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, spending plans 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 at some point,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, remotejobscape.com seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,” he said.

That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.

“You need to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that guests need to pinpoint the companies they want to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some recruiters. A senior details innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.