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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, [empty] WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and [empty] addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were available to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor trustemployement.com 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 Car Loan Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 “fast introduction 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.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is an essential advantage of attending a job fair, 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 and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

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

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 at some point,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, https://teachersconsultancy.com/employer/147837/jobspk accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

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

That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He explained that guests ought to pinpoint the business they want to speak with and research study them ahead of time, to allow for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked with some recruiters. A senior details technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.