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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, dirkohlmeier.de she attended a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I just attempt to take benefit 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 job fair on state work, rather than employment in various industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, jobsdirect.lk it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 [empty] Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance, » said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and studentvolunteers.us 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 aiming to do, » Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals find out about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re « not prepared to make that dive yet, » or they have actually seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

« We see that generally every year, » he said. « 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 nest egg 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 someday, » he stated, « however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out? »

also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

« You need to enter into a hiring reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around, » Handoe said.

He discussed that attendees ought to pinpoint the companies they desire to speak with and research them ahead of time, to allow for informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some employers. A senior details technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, studentvolunteers.us she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.