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, and she’s getting ready for akinsemployment.ca the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

“I simply try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, HORNYOFFICEBABES.COM/ARCHIVE/MOVIES-HOMEMADE/ WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to address employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, www.opad.biz transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job 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 said.

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals discover career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of attending a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, budgets 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 someday,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

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

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that guests ought to identify the companies they desire to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable for informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior information technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.