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 task hunters, she participated in an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
“I just attempt to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to offer, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she said.
The focus of the job fair on state work, referall.us rather than work in numerous industries, made it different 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 answered questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to answer employing concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.
Informational tables represented companies consisting of 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 chance to discover what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor 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, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.
An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re wanting to do,” Handoe stated, discussing that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.
Education is an essential advantage of going to a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.
“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We want them to make an educated choice about their profession.”
Part of the education piece is discovering financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe said.
“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he said, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to get out?”
Job fairs also exist to help individuals with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.
“You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway,” he said.
That preparation work includes getting ready for job fairs.
“You need to go into a working with fair with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.
He explained that guests must determine the companies they wish to talk to and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with recruiters.
Nolan took in the Jan. 30 task fair and consulted with some employers. A senior info technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.
