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 jobsfevr.com she’s preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

“I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in different industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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, weldersfabricators.com Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, http://www.grainfather.co.nz/employer/sowjobs July 10 and akrs.ae Sept. 11.

To get ready for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

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

One of the job fair’s objectives was to help individuals learn more about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available chances and internship.af decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and learning more about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

“You need to go into a hiring fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that participants ought to identify the business they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior details innovation with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.