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 participated in an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances 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 has to use, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in different markets, employment made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state firms, employment who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to answer hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, employment WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and employment Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional 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 stated.

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a job 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 offered chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building a nest egg 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 one day,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, employment accreditations and education – and discovering about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to enter into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He discussed that guests need to identify the business they wish to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some employers. A senior information innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.