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 getting ready for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she went to an employing fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
«I just try to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,» she said.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in various markets, made it different than others on the installation. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, [empty] employers from state agencies were available to respond to working with questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager 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 job fair is «a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what kind of chances exist here outside your back door,» said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor 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 «quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,» Handoe stated, discussing that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people discover about profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.
Education is a key advantage of going to a job fair, www.opad.biz as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover 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 essentially every year,» he stated. «We desire them to make an educated decision about their career.»
Part of the education piece is finding out about finances, consisting of credit reports, [empty] budgets and «constructing a nest egg 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 stated, «however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?»
Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, teachersconsultancy.com seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe said.
«You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later down the road,» he said.
That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.
«You require to enter into a working with fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,» Handoe said.
He discussed that participants must pinpoint the business they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.
