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, studentvolunteers.us and she’s getting ready for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she participated in a Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of work in various 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 agencies were available to respond to hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations 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 event, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to find out what type of opportunities exist here outdoors your back entrance,” said Christopher Gentz, transition services supervisor for teachersconsultancy.com the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

To get ready for families them, “gown for success,” bring your resume and practice your elevator cbl.health pitch, Gentz stated.

An elevator pitch is a “fast intro 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 objectives was to help individuals discover about career chances and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key benefit of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that jump yet,” or they have actually seen the available chances and choose to continue serving, hornyofficebabes.com/archive/movies-homemade/ Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed decision about their career.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about financial resources, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to work with when it’s time to go out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army sooner or later,” he said, “however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?”

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are looking for – consisting of accreditations, accreditations and education – and discovering their employing practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that attendees must pinpoint the business they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit for educated conversations with recruiters.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and consulted with some recruiters. A senior info technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.