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, [empty] and she’s preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she went to a hiring fair Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to benefit from all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center needs to use, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the job fair on state employment, instead of employment in different industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it started with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, [empty] recruiters from state firms were readily available to respond to hiring concerns, said Frank Handoe, deputy shift services supervisor for decreases 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 remotejobscape.com Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly event, [empty] the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what type of opportunities exist here outside your back entrance,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift 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 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.

Among the task fair’s goals was to help people learn more about career opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz stated.

Education is a key advantage of participating in a job fair, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not prepared to make that dive yet,” or 24-Hour Loan they have seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that essentially every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an educated decision about their career.”

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

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army someday,” he stated, “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 individuals in the outside world are searching for – including accreditations, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their working with practices, Handoe stated.

“You should be doing prep work now for what it is you wish to do later on down the roadway,” he stated.

That prep work consists of preparing for .

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

He explained that guests should determine the companies they wish to talk with and research them ahead of time, to permit for theboss.wesupportrajini.com educated discussions with employers.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 task fair and talked to some recruiters. A senior info technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.