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, referall.us and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I simply try to make the most 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, instead of work in various industries, made it different than others on the installation. 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 answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to answer working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including 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 occasion, somalibidders.com the task fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of chances exist here outside your back door, » stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, « dress 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 skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help people learn about profession chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re « not all set to make that jump yet, » or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

« We see that basically every year, » he stated. « We want them to make an informed choice about their career. »

Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and « developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out, » Handoe said.

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point, » he said, « but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and learning about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

« You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later on down the road, » he stated.

That prep work includes preparing for task fairs.

« You require to go into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe said.

He discussed that guests ought to identify the business they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior details innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.