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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession 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, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,» she said.
The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of work in numerous industries, made it various than others on the installation. 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, employers from state firms were offered to respond to hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, referall.us deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.
Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the task fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what type 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 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 wanting to do,» Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the job fair’s goals was to help individuals learn about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a key benefit of participating in a task fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re «not all set to make that jump yet,» or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.
«We see that essentially every year,» he stated. «We want them to make an educated decision about their profession.»
Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budgets and «developing 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 at some point,» he said, «however while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?»
Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.
«You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the road,» he stated.
That prep work includes preparing for .
«You require to go 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 must pinpoint the business they desire to talk to and research them ahead of time, to enable educated conversations with recruiters.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some recruiters. A senior info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.