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 applicants, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
«I simply attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to use, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,» she said.
The focus of the task fair on state work, rather than employment in numerous 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 firms, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were offered to address employing questions, job stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.
Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, job 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 is «a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what sort of chances exist here outside your back entrance,» stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for job 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 said.
An elevator pitch is a «fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,» Handoe stated, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people discover profession chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is an essential benefit of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re «not prepared to make that jump yet,» or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, job Gentz said.
«We see that generally every year,» he said. «We want them to make an educated decision about their profession.»
Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and «constructing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,» Handoe said.
«Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,» he stated, «but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?»
Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, job seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their working with practices, Handoe stated.
«You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,» he said.
That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.
«You need to enter into a hiring fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,» Handoe stated.
He discussed that guests ought to determine the companies they desire to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior info technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian role.
