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 shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

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

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in numerous 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, from state firms were offered to address working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and matchboyz.nl 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 sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services manager 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 them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator horizonsmaroc.com pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to help people learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

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

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, https://www.working.co.ke/employer/teachersconsultancy budget plans and “building a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,” he stated.

That prep work consists of preparing for job 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 guests need to identify the companies they want to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to allow for informed conversations with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some recruiters. A senior info technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.