JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

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

As part of a group of about 30 job applicants, she went to a hiring reasonable Jan. 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 provide, just to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than employment in different markets, made it different than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, horizonsmaroc.com WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state firms, who shared their experiences and addressed concerns. Following the panel, employers from state agencies were available to answer hiring questions, [empty] stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for employme.app 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 task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.

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

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

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

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist individuals learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a crucial benefit of attending a task reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the offered opportunities and https://studentvolunteers.us/employer/animployment decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.

“We see that essentially every year,” he stated. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning about finances, consisting of credit reports, budgets and “building 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, “but while you remain 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 trying to find – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.

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

That prep work includes preparing for task fairs.

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

He described that participants need to determine the business they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to enable for educated discussions with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.