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 task hunters, she went to a working with fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just attempt to take benefit of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, just to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.

The focus of the job fair on state work, careers.ebas.co.ke instead of employment in numerous markets, made it various 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, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were readily available to respond to working with concerns, 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 occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of chances exist here outdoors your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To get ready for them, “dress 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 seeking to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist individuals learn about career opportunities and how their skills align with them, families Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

“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 about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are searching for 이지론 – including certifications, Car Loan accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe said.

“You must be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do in the future down the road,” he said.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for task fairs.

“You require to go into a working with fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe said.

He discussed that guests should determine the companies they wish to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with recruiters.

Nolan took in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and talked to some recruiters. A senior information innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.