Something About Company

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

As part of a group of about 30 task applicants, she attended a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

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

The focus of the task fair on state employment, instead of employment in different 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 readily available to address employing concerns, https://www.opad.biz/employer/chuhaipin stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for the TAP.

Informational tables represented organizations including VERG, WorkSource and Washington State’s Department of Veterans Affairs and horizonsmaroc.com VA Apprenticeship Program; Department of Children, Youth and Families; Department of Social and Health Services, teachersconsultancy.com Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, the task fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure chance to find out what sort 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 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 stated.

An elevator pitch is a “quick introduction of yourself, who you are and what you’re seeking to do,” Handoe stated, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.

Among the task fair’s objectives was to help individuals discover career opportunities and how their skills align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP discover they’re “not ready to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We want them to make an educated decision about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is learning more about finances, reports, budget plans and “building 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 go out?”

Job fairs likewise exist to assist people with networking, seeing what people in the outside world are looking for – 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 later down the road,” he stated.

That prep work consists of getting ready for job fairs.

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

He discussed that guests must identify the business they want to consult with and research study them ahead of time, to permit for informed discussions with employers.

Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 job fair and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech expert with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually found she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.