JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a few weeks away, and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job hunters, 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 needs to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in various industries, 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 answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were available to answer working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, WorkSource and [empty] Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and https://jobportal.kernel.sa/employer/seedvertexnetwork 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, centerfairstaffing.com the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To get ready for them, “gown 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 seeking 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 individuals discover about profession chances and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that basically every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing 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 someday,” he said, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering about their employing practices, Handoe stated.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the road,” he said.

That preparation work consists of preparing for task fairs.

“You need to go into an employing fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that attendees must identify the business they want to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and talked with some recruiters. A senior details technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.