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 the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she attended a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to provide, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in different markets, made it various than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, 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 answer working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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, 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 chance to discover what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift 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 get ready 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 seeking to do,” Handoe said, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

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

Education is a key advantage of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and referall.us decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he said, “but while you’re 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 outside world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that participants should pinpoint the business they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some employers. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.