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 transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task hunters, she attended an employing fair 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 use, simply to make certain I’m as prepared as possible,“ she said.
The focus of the job fair on state work, instead of employment in various markets, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, it began with a panel of veterans from state agencies, who shared their experiences and responded to concerns. Following the panel, employers from state companies were available to address hiring concerns, stated Frank Handoe, deputy shift services manager 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 occasion, the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure chance to learn what sort of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,“ said Christopher Gentz, shift services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional task 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 stated.
An elevator pitch is a „quick intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,“ Handoe said, mentioning that the ability is taught as part of the TAP.
Among the task fair’s goals was to help people discover about profession chances and how their abilities line up with them, referall.us Gentz said.
Education is a crucial benefit of attending a task fair, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP discover they’re „not ready to make that dive yet,“ or they have actually seen the available opportunities and choose to continue serving, Gentz stated.
„We see that generally every year,“ he stated. „We want them to make an educated choice about their career.“
Part of the education piece is finances, consisting of credit reports, spending plans and „developing a savings 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 one day,“ he said, „however while you’re in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to get out?“
Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outdoors world are trying to find – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and finding out about their employing practices, Handoe stated.
„You need to be doing prep work now for what it is you desire to do in the future down the roadway,“ he said.
That prep work includes getting ready for task fairs.
„You require to go into a working with reasonable with a strategy of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe stated.
He described that attendees should identify the companies they wish to speak to and research study them ahead of time, to permit informed conversations with employers.
Nolan took pleasure in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and consulted with some employers. A senior infotech specialist with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her upcoming civilian function.
