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 dirkohlmeier.de she’s getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

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

“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms 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, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for the Directorate of .

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

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

An elevator Car Loan pitch is a “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals discover profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered chances and [empty] choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “developing a savings 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, “but while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

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

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to enter into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He discussed that attendees should identify the companies they desire to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked with some employers. A senior information technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.