JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Staff Sergeant Danika Nolan’s military exit date is a couple of weeks away, and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job candidates, she participated in a working with . 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I simply try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to offer, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in various industries, 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 firms, who shared their experiences and addressed questions. Following the panel, employers from state firms were offered to answer hiring questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, [empty] 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 opportunity to learn what sort of opportunities 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 occasion will be held May 8, July 10 and MATURE OFFICE PORN & SEX PICTURES Sept. 11.

To prepare for them, “dress for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator 24-Hour Loan pitch is a “fast introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re aiming to do,” Handoe stated, pointing out that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals discover career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial advantage of participating in a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have seen the readily available chances and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated choice about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “developing a savings so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he stated, “but while you’re in, are you doing whatever you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe said.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do later on down the road,” he stated.

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests ought to identify the companies they want to consult with and research them ahead of time, to permit educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task fair and talked with some recruiters. A senior information technology specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.