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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she participated in a hiring 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 needs to offer, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different industries, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and www.opad.biz 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 opportunity to learn what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 event will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To prepare for studentvolunteers.us them, “dress 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 wanting to do,” Handoe stated, 64.227.136.170 pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to help people discover about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “developing a nest egg 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 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 individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their hiring practices, [empty] Handoe said.

“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.

That preparation work includes preparing for job fairs.

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

He described that guests must pinpoint the companies they desire to talk to and research them ahead of time, [empty] to permit educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and holisticrecruiters.uk talked to some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.