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 getting ready for the shift 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 profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to take benefit 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 employment, instead of work in numerous industries, 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 responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were readily available to answer employing questions, https://horizonsmaroc.com/ said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for linked web site the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies 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 job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, www.opad.biz July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “gown 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 seeking to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s goals was to assist people find out about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and [empty] decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering about finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “building 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 stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, sowjobs.com accreditations and education – and learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for .

“You require to go into a working with reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that participants should pinpoint the companies they wish to talk to and research them ahead of time, to allow for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.