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 preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job seekers, 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 needs to offer, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in various markets, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and responded to questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were offered to address employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.
Informational tables represented companies including 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, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out 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, MATURE OFFICE PORN & SEX PICTURES 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 said, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is an essential benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the offered and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an informed decision about their career.”
Part of the education piece is discovering finances, including credit reports, budgets and “building 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 someday,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, 24-Hour Loan seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe said.
“You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway,” he said.
That prep work consists of preparing for job fairs.
“You require to enter into a hiring reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that attendees ought to determine the companies they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, www.careers.zigtrading.co.za to permit informed conversations with employers.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke to some recruiters. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.