JBLM Job Fair Showcases State Employment Opportunities

LEWIS-McCHORD, [empty] 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 job applicants, sowjobs.com she attended an employing reasonable Jan. 30 that showcased Washington State career chances at JBLM’s Hawk Career Center.

“I just try to take advantage of all the resources and services that the (Transition Assistance Program) Center has to provide, simply to ensure I’m as prepared as possible,” she stated.

The focus of the task fair on state employment, rather than work in various industries, made it different 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 agencies, who shared their experiences and answered questions. Following the panel, recruiters from state companies were offered to respond to employing questions, stated Frank Handoe, deputy transition services supervisor 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 Health Services, Community Services Division; and Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

A quarterly occasion, the job fair is “a low-stress, low-pressure opportunity to learn what kind of opportunities exist here outdoors your back door,” stated Christopher Gentz, shift services supervisor 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 “fast 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.

One of the task fair’s goals was to assist people learn more about profession opportunities and how their abilities align with them, Gentz said.

Education is a crucial benefit of going to a job reasonable, as about 40% of those who start with the TAP learn they’re “not all set to make that dive yet,” or they have actually seen the readily available chances and essencialponto.com.br choose to continue serving, Gentz said.

“We see that generally every year,” he said. “We desire them to make an informed choice about their profession.”

Part of the education piece is finding out about financial resources, including credit reports, spending plans and “constructing a nest egg so you have something to deal with when it’s time to get out,” Handoe stated.

“Everybody’s going to get out of the Army at some point,” he stated, “but while you remain in, are you doing everything you can to prepare to go out?”

Job fairs also exist to help people with networking, seeing what individuals in the outside world are trying to find – including certifications, accreditations and education – and learning more about their employing practices, Handoe said.

“You need to 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 getting ready for job fairs.

“You need to enter into a hiring reasonable with a plan of what you’re going to do and not just meander around,” Handoe stated.

He described that attendees must identify the companies they wish to talk with and research study them ahead of time, to enable informed conversations with recruiters.

Nolan enjoyed the Jan. 30 job reasonable and talked with some employers. A senior information technology professional with the 16th Combat Aviation Unit, she has actually discovered she desires to serve those who serve in her approaching civilian role.