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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 hunters, she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.
The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were readily available to respond to hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor employment for the TAP.
Informational tables represented organizations consisting of VERG, 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, employment the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover what type of chances exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional task 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 employment pitch, Gentz stated.
An elevator pitch is a “fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,” Handoe said, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s objectives was to assist individuals discover career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.
Education is an essential advantage of participating in a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.
“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated choice about their career.”
Part of the education piece is learning about financial resources, including credit reports, budget plans 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 one day,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”
Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what people in the outdoors world are looking for – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.
“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do later down the roadway,” he said.
That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.
“You require to go into a working with fair with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around,” Handoe stated.
He described that participants should identify the companies they desire to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some employers. A senior info innovation expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wants to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.