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 went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply attempt to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, job who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to address working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for 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 job Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly occasion, job the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.
To prepare for them, “gown 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 seeking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.
Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a task reasonable, 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 offered opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and “building a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and job learning more about their hiring practices, Handoe said.
“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.
That preparation work includes preparing for job fairs.
“You require to enter into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.
He described that participants ought to pinpoint the business they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with .
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior info innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.
