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 employment the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she went to an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities 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 certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.
The focus of the task fair on state work, instead of employment in numerous industries, employment made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and employment the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state firms were available to answer hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated 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 pitch, Gentz stated.
An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction 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.
One of the job fair’s goals was to help people discover profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.
Education is a key benefit of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”
Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “developing a savings 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 one day,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe said.
“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the road,” he stated.
That preparation work consists of getting ready for task 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 discussed that guests should determine the business they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with employers.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some recruiters. A senior employment info innovation professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.
