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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in various industries, 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and sowjobs.com addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to answer hiring questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.
Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, [empty] the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of chances 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, https://www.opad.biz/employer/acheigrandevix/ July 10 and Sept. 11.
To get ready for them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.
An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the job fair’s was to help people find out about career opportunities and 64.227.136.170 how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a key advantage of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or sowjobs.com they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed choice about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe said.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – including accreditations, matchboyz.nl accreditations and galmudugjobs.com education – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe stated.
“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,” he said.
That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.
“You require to enter into an employing reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that guests must determine the companies they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.