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 referall.us she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base .
As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, she attended a working with 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 provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous industries, made it different 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 answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to answer hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor 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 occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the job fair’s goals was to help people learn more about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is a key benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg 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 sooner or later,” he stated, “however while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.
“You need 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 consists of preparing for job fairs.
“You need to go into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe said.
He discussed that participants need to pinpoint the companies they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.