JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika exit date is a couple of weeks away, and USSD financial she’s getting ready for [empty] the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she participated in a working with 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 needs to use, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in various industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and [empty] the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to respond to employing concerns, 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 24-Hour Loan Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what kind of chances exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor empleosrapidos.com for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, seedvertexnetwork.co.ke July 10 and Sept. 11.
To get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator [empty] pitch, Gentz stated.
An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.
Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a task 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, Gentz stated.
“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed decision about their career.”
Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget 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 said, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.
“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road,” he said.
That preparation work consists of preparing for job fairs.
“You require to enter into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.
He described that participants ought to pinpoint the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with employers.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to 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.
