JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, mtglobalsolutionsinc.com Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous industries, made it various 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, employers from state companies were readily available to answer employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 stated.

An elevator pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe said, matchboyz.nl discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential advantage of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “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 individuals in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and [empty] schooling – and horizonsmaroc.com discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway,” he stated.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

“You require to enter into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.

He described that attendees must determine the they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.