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 preparing for the transition at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
As part of a group of about 30 task candidates, she participated in a hiring reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career opportunities at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.
„I simply attempt to make the most of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to make sure I’m as prepared as possible,“ she said.
The focus of the on state employment, rather than employment in various industries, made it various than others on the setup. Sponsored by the Veterans Employee Resource Group, WorkSource and the TAP, employment it started with a panel of veterans from state companies, who shared their experiences and answered concerns. Following the panel, recruiters from state firms were readily available to answer employing questions, said Frank Handoe, deputy transition services manager for 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 employment Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
A quarterly occasion, the task fair is „a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to discover what type of chances exist here outdoors your back door,“ stated Christopher Gentz, transition services manager for the Directorate of Human Resources.
Additional task fairs like the Jan. 30 occasion will be held May 8, employment July 10 and employment Sept. 11.
To get ready for them, „gown for success,“ bring your resume and practice your elevator pitch, Gentz stated.
An elevator pitch is a „fast intro of yourself, who you are and what you’re looking to do,“ Handoe said, mentioning that the skill is taught as part of the TAP.
One of the job fair’s objectives was to assist people find out about career opportunities and how their skills line up with them, Gentz said.
Education is an essential advantage of attending a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who begin with the TAP learn they’re „not all set to make that jump yet,“ or they have actually seen the offered chances and decide to continue serving, Gentz stated.
„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, including credit reports, budget plans and „developing a savings so you have something to work with when it’s time to get out,“ Handoe stated.
„Everybody’s going to get out of the Army one day,“ he stated, „but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?“
Job fairs also exist to assist individuals with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are searching for – consisting of certifications, accreditations and schooling – and discovering their hiring practices, Handoe stated.
„You should be doing prep work now for what it is you want to do in the future down the roadway,“ he stated.
That prep work includes preparing for job fairs.
„You need to enter into an employing reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,“ Handoe said.
He explained that guests need to determine the companies they desire to speak to and research them ahead of time, to allow for informed conversations with recruiters.
Nolan delighted in the Jan. 30 task reasonable and spoke with some recruiters. A senior infotech professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has discovered she wishes to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian function.