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 preparing 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 profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the on state employment, 이지론 instead of 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 companies were offered to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor [empty] 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, xpressrh.com 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 chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.
To prepare for them, “dress 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 looking to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s goals was to help individuals learn about career chances and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.
Education is a crucial benefit of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring 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 includes preparing for task fairs.
“You require to go into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that participants must identify the business they want to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable for informed conversations with employers.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior information innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.