JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of work in different markets, 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, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state companies were offered to respond to employing concerns, MATURE OFFICE PORN & SEX PICTURES stated Frank Handoe, 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 64.227.136.170 Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 said.
An elevator pitch is a “fast introduction 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.
Among the job fair’s goals was to assist people find out about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task reasonable, 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 available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, www.opad.biz consisting of credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe said.
“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the road,” he stated.
That prep work consists of preparing for task fairs.
“You require to enter into an employing fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He explained that attendees should identify the business they desire to consult with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with employers.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.
