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 Car Loan she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 needs to offer, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in various markets, 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were readily available to respond to working with concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 opportunity to learn what sort of chances exist here outside your back door,” said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 will be held May 8, July 10 and Sept. 11.

To get ready 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 looking to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people learn more about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, hornyofficebabes.com/pics-gay/ Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities 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 career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budgets and “building a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“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 people in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – 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 roadway,” he stated.

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

“You require to go into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He explained that participants should pinpoint the companies they wish to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit for [Redirect-302] informed conversations with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior details technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, www.opad.biz she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.