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 studentvolunteers.us the shift at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task seekers, she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State profession chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

« I just attempt to make the most of 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 numerous 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 concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to address working with concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented companies including 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, https://horizonsmaroc.com the job fair is « a low-stress, low-pressure chance to discover out what kind of chances exist here outside your back door, » said Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor for 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 them, « dress for success, » bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz said.

An elevator pitch is a « fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do, » Handoe stated, pointing out that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

One of the task fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about career opportunities and how their abilities line up with them, Gentz said.

Education is an essential benefit of going to a job fair, 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 available chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz said.

« We see that basically every year, » he said. « We desire them to make an educated choice about their career. »

Part of the education piece is discovering finances, consisting of credit reports, budget plans and « building a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out, » Handoe said.

« Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day, » he stated, « however while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out? »

Job fairs also exist to assist people with networking, seeing what in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and finding out about 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 preparation work includes getting ready for https://sowjobs.com/employer/jobspk job fairs.

« You need to go into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not simply meander around, » Handoe stated.

He explained that participants ought to pinpoint the companies they want to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit informed discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and spoke to some employers. A senior details technology expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has found she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.