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 for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I simply try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in numerous industries, made it various 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were offered to respond to working with questions, mobidesign.us stated Frank Handoe, www.working.co.ke deputy transition services supervisor 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 occasion, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of chances exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 event 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 “quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals find out about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is an essential advantage of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “building 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 one day,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”
Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe said.
“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the road,” he stated.
That preparation work includes getting ready for redefineworksllc.com 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 explained that participants ought to identify the companies they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to permit educated discussions with employers.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some employers. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.
