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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she participated in a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

«I just try to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,» she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in numerous industries, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state companies, empleosrapidos.com who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to respond to concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition 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 occasion, the task fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover out what sort of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,» stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional job fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and https://teachinthailand.org 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 stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the job fair’s goals was to help people learn more about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task reasonable, 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 readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

«We see that basically every year,» he said. «We want them to make an informed decision about their profession.»

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and «developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,» Handoe stated.

«Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,» he stated, «however 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 – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering about their hiring practices, [empty] Handoe stated.

«You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the roadway,» he stated.

That preparation work includes preparing for task fairs.

«You require to go into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,» Handoe said.

He explained that guests need to pinpoint the business they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, to enable educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some employers. A senior info innovation specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.