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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 couple of weeks away, and she's preparing for the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she went to a working with reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career 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 use, just to ensure I'm as prepared as possible," she said.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in various 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 responded to concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state agencies were available to answer employing concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift 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 job fair is "a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of chances exist here outside your back door," stated Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion 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 akinsemployment.ca pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a "fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you're seeking to do," Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair's objectives was to assist individuals learn more about career chances and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a task fair, horizonsmaroc.com 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 available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

"We see that essentially every year," he said. "We desire them to make an educated decision about their profession."

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, including credit reports, budgets and "developing a nest egg 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 someday," he stated, "however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?"

Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are looking for - consisting of certifications, accreditations and https://horizonsmaroc.com/ schooling - and finding out about their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

"You ought to be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later down the road," he said.

That preparation work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

"You need to enter into an employing reasonable with a plan of what you're going to do and not just meander around," Handoe stated.

He explained that participants must determine the business they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to enable informed discussions with employers.

Nolan took in the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke to some recruiters. A senior details technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.